Journal
Stories from the atelier
On making, fabrics, slow fashion and life as a one-woman label in Middelburg.
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Confessions of a shop owner
Het is stil deze dagen... Of hoe een collega het schreef: "super dood", omdat ik me af vroeg hoe het bij anderen was. Aan de ene kant heel stom om te horen, aan de...
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Let's talk about: the labels
Did you know ZWAAN's labels are sustainable too? About the question that got me thinking, and why I now stamp my labels myself.
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Where do you get your inspiration from?
‘Where do you get your inspiration from?’ A question I get asked a lot. From a rug and books to a new fabric: for me, it really comes from everywhere.
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News, news, news!
What was in that envelope? A letter to you: as of 1 July 2027 I'm closing the physical ZWAAN shop. ZWAAN itself carries on!
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A ZWAAN photo shoot: how it really goes
An IKEA bag full of dresses, two models, evening sun and my camera: this is what a ZWAAN photo shoot is really like. No glitter or glamour, just lots of fun.
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ZWAAN's summer bestseller, and here's why
Your favourite for at least four summers in a row: the Dance wrap skirt. Why it's so timeless, why you can ride a bike in it, and the one thing that still bugs me.
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‘How long does it take you to make these clothes?’
How long do I spend on a single sweater, and what goes into the price? From pattern and fabric to photos, rent and VAT: an honest answer.
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How I ended up in sustainable fashion
My brother thought I started making sustainable fashion out of conviction. The honest story: I actually rolled into it, and I'm never turning back.
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Clothes with a story: upcycled fashion!
Why I'm choosing upcycling more and more: I turn old jeans, fabric scraps and an 80s bedspread into unique pieces with a story.
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How to: measure
How do I measure a garment, and how do you measure yourself? Chest, hips, sleeve length, length and waist, explained step by step with photos.
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You have to do what you have to do
Admin isn't my favourite, but standing in front of the lens is even worse. About modelling the new collection myself and balancing work with being a mum.
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Finally, an update!
Married, became a mum and back in the shop: a personal update on my 2025, ZWAAN minis made from scraps, and my plans.
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The Basic sweater, unchanged for over 6 years
Unchanged for over 6 years and still a favourite. Yet something about the Basic sweater is changing: I'll explain what, and why.
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Some new insights… after almost 2 years with my own shop!
Almost two years with my own shop: an honest post about ups and downs, seasons that no longer add up, taking time to rest and the loveliest customers.
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My secret love
My secret love? Upcycling! Why I love turning leftovers into something new, and how one old jacket became two new ones.
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5 years of www.lzwaan.com!
My website turns 5 and the ZWAAN store turns 1! An honest look back at the pandemic, the shop, finding balance in my work, plus a little thank-you.
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Made of Mess March 2023
A new one of a kind or limited piece every day in March, made from offcuts, old shirts and deadstock. Here's how Made of Mess month works!
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FAQ, with all the answers!
The questions I get asked most often in my shop, all in one place: from ‘did you really make everything yourself?’ to ‘how do the sizes fit?’
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ZWAAN gift card
Looking for the perfect gift? Meet the new ZWAAN gift card, with an illustration by Sanne Boerma, a handmade envelope and an amount of your choice.
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(Another) update from my shop
A personal update from the ZWAAN store in Middelburg: how things are going, an expo in the shop, Fair Shopping Day and what's coming next.
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An update from my shop: ZWAAN store
The ZWAAN store has been open for a month! A personal update on my first month with a shop and studio in Middelburg, lessons learned, giveaways and what's next.
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How to style: the Ballet wrap skirt
Three shops, three styles: Sebastian den Herder, Moois & Meer and The Blind Spot each style the Ballet wrap skirt their own way.
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Slow fashion in a nutshell
What exactly is slow fashion? Short and sweet, I explain why it's about more than sustainable fabric, and why it describes ZWAAN so well.
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Made of Mess March
Every weekday in March, a new Made of Mess piece online at 12 noon: unique items made from fabric scraps, from XS to XXL.
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How to style: the Basic sweater
Stylist Nikki Gillissen shows how to wear the Basic sweater: with a pinafore, gilet, puffer or denim on denim. With size info and style tips for every look.
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How did ZWAAN come about?
After studying fashion design in Düsseldorf, I actually planned to do a master's. Instead, I started my own little label: this is how ZWAAN came about.
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Made-to-order fashion: what is it, actually?
ZWAAN is a made-to-order brand, but what does that mean? I explain how it works, what the exceptions are and what the advantage is for you.
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5 bestsellers of 2021
Which ZWAAN pieces did you love most in 2021? From the Basic sweater to the ZWAAN minis: these are the five bestsellers of the year.
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Spotlight: the Made in Zeeland sweater
A new sweater design: nice and oversized, with a roomier neckline and a stamped label. And truly made in Zeeland, in my own studio.
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How to: care for your clothes the right way
How do you keep your clothes looking good for as long as possible? My 10 simple tips, from washing less and air-drying to repairing, upcycling and passing on.
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8 sustainable gift ideas
Looking for an original present someone will actually use? Here are my 8 sustainable gift ideas, from a hand-knitted scarf to a gift card.
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Happy customers
You sometimes send me the sweetest messages after an order. Here's a big collection of honest reviews from happy ZWAAN customers, exactly as you sent them.
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Sustainable shopping in Zeeland
My favourite places to shop sustainably in Zeeland: from fair fashion and vintage designer clothing to second-hand shops in and around Middelburg.
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Alles Anders: the collection
A whole collection made only from leftover fabric: Alles Anders, autumn/winter 2021-22. Five drops, each with its own colour palette, full of one of a kinds.
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Summer bestseller: the T-shirt dress
Next to the Basic sweater, my biggest bestseller: the T-shirt dress. Why you love it so much, and why it now comes in blue too.
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This year's donation: are you in?
This year I'm supporting Jyoti Fairworks and their sewing centre in Londa, India. €7 feeds a family for ten days, and you could win a prize.
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#WhoMadeMyFabric?
It's Fashion Revolution Week! So I'm telling you who made the fabric for the Dutchess pieces: Enschede Textielstad, a sustainable Dutch weaving mill.
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All about Tencel
What exactly is Tencel, how is it different from lyocell and viscose, and why is it the more sustainable choice? I looked into it for you.
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The Basic sweater
How a leather jacket lined with Zeeuws schortenbont became the basis for my Basic sweater: the short history of my very first ZWAAN piece.
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Talking with QURC
An interview with Farbod and Thomas of QURC, the Amsterdam label behind vegan cork sneakers: how they started, their style and their sustainable choices.
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Dressed
Timeless, cosy yet festive dresses for the holiday season. I'll show you different ways to wear them, with plenty of photos for inspiration.
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Talking with Mrs. Trinkets
For The Millers shoot, I teamed up with Mrs. Trinkets from Zeeland. Maartje talks about her handmade jewellery, materials and inspiration.
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What is sustainability to me?
What makes a brand truly sustainable? I explain how I work: everything myself in my studio, with sustainable fabrics, leftover materials and made to order.
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The girl behind the brand
Who's actually behind ZWAAN? Let me introduce myself: who I am, how I started my own brand and why I'm writing this blog.
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@l_zwaan
A peek into the studio
On Instagram I share all the details: new fabrics, pieces in progress and a look behind the sewing machine.
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