MEET THE MAKERS: JASMIN
Studio Elsien Gringhuis believes in long-term collaborations and we are committed to ensuring that people are able to upgrade their skills and pursue their passions under excellent working conditons. We produce in our own studio in The Netherlands with the help of skilled tailors, that we train ourselves. This way we support (local-) craftsmanship, that in many ways is about to be forgotten and stimulate economic growth of the local community.
We would like you to meet our makers. By sharing our ideas of fair fashion at Studio Elsien Gringhuis and the ideas of our makers, we’d like to give you a closer perspective on fair fashion.
Jasmin
Function at SEG: Intern production and design
Age: 21
Why did you choose to work for SEG?
Originally, I was just generally looking for a suitable internship. A school friend of mine did an internship at Studio Elsien Gringhuis. When she came back to school, she had changed. She worked a lot more focused and made a really great project at the end of the school year. That impressed me a lot. So I looked up the website of Elsien. And I was very positively surprised. Everything seemed so beautifully organized and professional. The clothes appealed to me directly. The designs are wearable and yet they have that certain something, that special twist, which I am always looking for as well, when I create something myself.
I like small details or finishing’s for instance. Always subtle and fine. I’m not a big fan of bold things. Elsien’s clothing is providing this. She works with classic cuts, but not like the clothes I find at commercial shops.
What is your favourite SEG garment?
At the moment you only see urban skinny jeans everywhere. Elsien’s trousers, which have also become my favourite Studio Elsien Gringhuis pieces, are different. They are widely cut. Sure, now everybody can say that you can buy wide trousers everywhere as well. But the combination is what makes it special. Elsien, in my opinion, uses a sporty, casual cut and combines it with classic high-quality material and adds practical and functional details to the trousers. That’s what makes her clothes special to me.
What does clothing mean to you and which fabrics do you like?
Clothing means variation. To be allowed to dress according to my mood. The worst thing is, when I’m tired and wearing something uncomfortable. I can’t stand that at all.
Variation is exactly what inspires me also most about my favourite material, 100% wool. Wool can be thick, thin, fine or even rough. Wool can be woven and knitted. Wool can be an extremely strong material, but then also an elastic, breathable material. That’s why I love wool.
How do you experience the clothing industry today?
To be honest I don’t know many sustainable fashion labels so far. I’m also new to the whole theme of making slow fashion clothing. But working with Elsien has definitely taught me to be aware of it.
I think that people understand the problems with today’s fashion industry, but it doesn’t affect them directly. Although they know that the majority of clothes are made under incredibly bad working conditions. And that this is the reason why they’re so cheap. The fact that they are cheap, is also why they keep buying them. People should see how it’s made and under which circumstances. I think you would have to stick it right under their nose. Otherwise people won’t understand that it is really not a matter of looking away.
I feel threatened by this as a seamstress/designer in this industry. If in the future I manage to start my own label, I will be faced with the challenge that people want to buy my fairly produced clothes without feeling it’s too expensive for them.
You can in a way compare it with the meat industry. If people would see how animals are treated and slaughtered, they would probably think differently about buying and consuming meat. They would be more aware of eating meat that is fairly produced and be willing to pay a bit more as well.
Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
I hope I can start my own label making clothes for self-confident men and women with their own style. I would love to do my own thing and show it to the world. I think it is better to stand out than to hide. And if I would start a label, then my aim would be to show people how my clothes are made and of course by whom. Just as we do here at Studio Elsien Gringhuis. So people know for what they’re paying for. I would also produce them in the way, that I would be able to create good jobs and pay fair wages for workers. I think this is the way I can help them the most.