On the occasion of the re-opening of the UNIQLO Wars Sawa Junior shop, the Japanese brand invited Ola Niepsuj, an illustrator, graphic designer and visual artist whose work seamlessly blends the world of art with functional design
This is a unique meeting of global branding and local sensibilities – a tribute to Warsaw, where modernity is intertwined with the legend of its origins
Wars and Sawa in a new version
After the refurbishment, the space has become a full-fledged UNIQLO shop – minimalist and warm, with wood and metal inspired by American libraries. It is the realisation of Tadashi Yanai’s vision of a “library with clothes”, which has taken on a local character in Warsaw, combining functionality, art and identity of place.
The wall of the newly opened shop features an impressive mural by Ola Niepsuj, inspired by the Warsaw legend of the fisherman Wars and the mermaid Sawa – a tale of love from which the city was born.
The artist has made visual references to the motifs of Polish folk art and traditional cut-outs.The composition of the mural features symbols of the capital city – the Palace of Culture and Science, rhythmic patterns inspired by the ornamentation of Mazovia, and rich, pulsating colours.
The resulting work, harmoniously blends tradition with modernity, becoming a visual symbol of the shop’s new opening – a place where, as in Warsaw itself, different cultures, styles and energies meet. The mural will remain in the shop permanently.
Art in the everyday
Ola Niepsuj has also prepared graphics for two personalisation services available in the shop: three original designs to be printed on T-shirts and bags, inspired by Warsaw and urban mythology as part of the UTme! and a set of embroideries specially designed for decorating, personalising or repairing clothes as part of the RE.UNIQLO
Opening attended by the Japanese Ambassador
The grand opening of the shop took place on 23 October 2025, with a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony by His Excellency Akira Kono, Ambassador of Japan to Poland, Takanobu Yomogida, Kohsuke Kobayashi – representatives of UNIQLO, partners Or Ackerman, Jan Rosner, Aleksandra Dojnikowska, and artist Ola Niepsuj.
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OlaNiepsuj is one of those artists whose style you recognise immediately – even if you don’t know her name. She designs illustrations, posters, books and packaging, but above all she tells stories. She builds micro-worlds – personal, full of irony and tenderness towards the everyday. She treats design like a thinking process: conceptually, holistically, with attention to every detail. In her world, handicraft meets technology, folklore meets pop culture, and high art blends seamlessly into applied art. Her work has been shown in more than 220 exhibitions in 35 countries and she has won more than 40 international trade competitions.
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Photos: Piotr Maciaszek
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