A KALTBLUT exclusive. Photography by Kuba Stachowiak. The model is Oskar Netkowski. Styling by Oscar Jamie Paddon using kust. and vintage items from a personal collection. Oskar Netkowski is a Polish young generation television journalist whom viewers had the opportunity to meet in one of the most popular breakfast programs. Talented and undoubtedly one of the most colourful figures among journalists in Poland.
“Warsaw was not my home for a long time. Rather chaos, necessity, the delusion of dreams coming true. Adjusting to the rigid corsets of rules that prevail in the media led me to the point where I felt burned out and destroyed. What fed me for years finally wanted to take away who I am.
Don’t lean out. Don’t be too much. People don’t like it. Do it. Do not do this. Show up. Okay, now hide.
A professor in college, a war reporter, told me when I got my first job in the media: Don’t change yourself or they will try to do it. Keep your sensitivity and authenticity, because they will want to deprive you of it. Professor, I kept my word.
I have always rebelled, at home, at school and at work. Always trying to remember that there is also a human on the other side. The ability to rebel, however, decreases when you do not feel strong enough. I was consumed not only by the pressure of work but also by life in Warsaw. Now, after 7 years in the capital I am looking for my home, I want to make friends with her. I rented a total of nine apartments, I cried on the street, and in the subway. You won’t see it on my Instagram. Keep your emotions in check, they said. In the end, after stripping off everything I had, I was left with freedom. Nobody can take that away from us. It’s sacred.
That’s why today, full of freedom and open to the unknown, I walk around the city that terrified me and digested me with every step, with my dog, Fabian. I’m not trying to fit in anymore. I bet on what I like. Comfort has a higher price than contracts. Therefore, I will risk it to feel free and comfortable.
The road to yourself is a difficult process. Mine is like that. I say „is” because I’m still in it. I still don’t know. I keep wondering. I still have doubts. I’m hesitating. But it’s my freedom. I’m going my way. Through Warsaw, where my home blooms.“
Photography by Kuba Stachowiak / Instagram: @jakubkuboviak
Model is Oskar Netkowski / Instagram: @ikoniczny
Styling Oscar Jamie Paddon / Instagram: @oscarjpaddon
Brands used are: kust., vintage from a personal collection
Instagram name of each brand: @kust.premises
