With 20 to watch, Flanders DC presents twenty emerging talents, who recently took their first steps in the worlds of design or fashion. We believe they will have great success in the future.

Textiles allow you to create a personal universe through a contemporary translation of traditional techniques. In addition, within the discipline itself you can experiment with many different techniques, which keeps textiles fascinating. The fact that I can make pieces myself, but at the same time outsource production to small workshops, is also nice. It gives me more time for the creative aspect.

I want to spread my work as far as possible and bring a playfulness to the adult world. That’s why I aim for a certain childish, cheerful naivety in my work. When I’m creating in my studio, I want to have fun, above all. At the same time, I adopt a heightened vulnerability, which lends a great intimacy to my work. I’m not concerned with commercial strategies. In this utopian dream phase, I don’t want to impose limits on myself. I hope that customers who feel that emotionality will continue to cherish my pieces in the long term.

While I’ve certainly struggled to find the right balance, it’s become easier over the years. Because I now have certain pieces of my applied work produced industrially, there is time for more artistic installations or custom projects. At the same time, it’s still not easy to sell myself. I prefer to stay in the background and let my work speak for itself. So I should be a bit more assertive in that respect. At the same time, I consider it a milestone that I can now make a living from my work.