What began with reworking vintage Levi's has grown into Atelier À-BASE, Berber Bloem's sustainable clothing brand where every item is given a new life and made timeless. In this interview, she discusses her creative process, the choices she makes as a young entrepreneur, and how she transforms her passion for clothing into unique, handmade pieces.
What does "being bold" mean to you personally? For me, being bold means doing what feels right and what I believe in without listening too much to other people's opinions. When do you feel most powerful? I think it's important to take good care of myself, both physically and mentally. When I do this, I notice that I'm more energetic and creative, and therefore automatically at my strongest. How did Atelier À-Base come about, and what was your first steps as a young entrepreneur like? Atelier À-BASE was born from a love of quality, vintage clothing, and tailoring. I started by altering vintage Levi's and other denim items, while also working a part-time job. That certainly wasn't always easy; I poured all my money back into my business, often leaving me with little for myself or fun things. I did notice that the more time I put into it, the better it got, so I quit that job and gradually expanded from there to a full-fledged clothing brand. What I enjoy most about being an entrepreneur is taking risks, the freedom, and trying new things and learning. What attracted you to sustainable and vintage clothing, and why did you choose to design and make everything yourself? Since I was little, I was always busy drawing and designing clothes. I also often went vintage shopping with my mother, so I definitely inherited a passion for vintage clothing and quality. I learned how to make clothes partly during my studies: the Jeans School International Course, and I also practiced a lot myself afterward. My interns and I make a large portion of the clothes in the studio in Amsterdam, and what we don't have time for, we prepare and sew in another studio in the Netherlands. What challenges did you face in setting up a sustainable clothing brand—and how did you overcome them? Because it's vintage clothing, each item is unique, and you really consider what needs to be done with each piece individually. This means you repeat the process from making it to when it's listed on the webshop. With a brand that sells brand-new clothing, you naturally sell the same item a certain number of times, so you ultimately spend much less time on it. What do you enjoy most or find most challenging about the process of giving an old garment a new life? The challenge lies in creatively solving limitations in a beautiful way; that's precisely what makes the process interesting, and the outcome remains surprising with each item. How do you find the balance between vintage/design, sustainability, and fashion trends, and how do you stay true to your vision in a rapidly changing fashion world?
I believe it's important not to follow trends too much and instead create clothes that will last and be timeless. That's the philosophy behind my design. Which design from your collection are you most proud of so far—and why? I just made a new item, "the buckle blazer jacket," which I'm very happy with. It's a jacket made from the blazers with a slightly thicker fabric. I'm proud of it because it's a solution for the blazers with a slightly thicker fabric, and the design has turned out really well and is well-liked. Who is a woman you admire for her courage—and why? Not a woman, but someone I admire: Virgil Abloh is someone I admire for his courage and find inspiring because he sees things differently than much of the mainstream fashion world and combines all sorts of different worlds, such as architecture, music, identity, and culture. That's also how I see and use creativity. What advice would you give to women who dream of more but are unsure? Think about what your ideal situation would look like and start with small steps in the right direction. Sometimes being bold is all about the little things. What's a small but courageous decision you've made recently? I moved my studio to Amsterdam three months ago, which has increased the costs, but for me, it was a very good step.
Finally: What's your favorite piece of Eline Rosina jewelry? My favorite Eline Rosina jewelry is the Rue statement hoops, a beautiful, simple, classic earring that goes with so many things. <3
