What is your specialty, what makes your work unique? Or place your artist's statement.

I, Kaatje van Wijk, graduated Fashion Design and find it terrible to see how the fashion industry is currently structured and what kind of damage it is causing to our world. The fast fashion industry is becoming more of a waste than a fashion industry where people are exploited under bad circumstances. It is therefore important for me to work in a sustainable way and to tackle this problem in a positive way.
I am currently working on my own developed design method where you can design your own existing garments. Think for example of putting on a garment differently or shaping it differently. What happens when you put your leg into the sleeve of your blouse? Or what happens when you wrap pants around your waist?
In the bigger picture, it is important to give you tools to redesign your own clothes so that everyone can and may continue to develop themselves. My project is a source of inspiration, I show how I apply my design method, give workshops so that I can also take you along in my method and give you back the power over your own closet.

What are your ambitions? What do you want to be in five years?

After studying the subject of sustainability through a master's degree, I would love to work for a fashion company to make a sustainable change in their system. In addition, I continue to work on my own developed design method and convey this to others with great enthusiasm through workshops and inspiring images on my Instagram.

What is the most important thing you have learned during your studies?

The most important thing I learned during my studies is not to be afraid to jump into the deep end. Try out as much as you can because that is where the most beautiful things come from. Even if you are sometimes very insecure, if you are not sure anymore or if you are just fed up, keep going, keep trying new things. It really pays off!

List of publications / exhibitions / prices / concerts / shows etc.

06-2020: Reader: Duurzaamheid in de kledingindustrie. Research into the vague concept of sustainability in the clothing industry

04-2020: Interview: Alternatives to the New. About who we are as new designers and my project 1 ITEM 100 POSSIBILITIES

01-2020:Exhibition at AG HKU Utrecht: Somewhere between desperate and divine. Project shown: 1 ITEM 100 POSSIBILITIES