My professional life
in a nutshell
Portrait © Vincent Gorissen
I was born in 1970 and have had a strong affinity for art and drawing from an early age. Paper, paint, clay — I loved experimenting with all of them. Between 1989 and 1993, I studied Fashion Design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, graduating with FISH, a collection made from brightly coloured, hand-painted silk fabrics.
From 1993 to 1997, I ran my own fashion label, which gained popularity in Japan, Hong Kong, France, Italy and the United States. My designs were characterised by a strong graphic approach, bold and unexpected colour combinations, and an interest in diverse knitwear techniques.
After my financial backer withdrew in 1998, I worked as an assistant to Antwerp designer Walter Van Beirendonck. I then spent three years in Tokyo, directing a Japanese knitwear brand for Narumiya Company.
Between 2001 and 2007, I taught at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent (KASK), Belgium, and at Designskolen Kolding in Denmark.
In 2009, I launched a handmade knitwear collection for men and women. After the birth of my son Isaac in 2011, I expanded the collection with designs for children. Each piece was made to order, hand-finished and produced in small quantities. From 2012, a selection of these designs was available at the Comme des Garçons Trading Museum store in Tokyo.
Alongside my knitwear practice, I gradually became more and more absorbed by drawing and graphic art. In 2014, I founded my creative studio and began working as a freelance designer and illustrator. I presented my work at international textile fairs including Première Vision in Paris and Heimtextil in Frankfurt, creating original illustrations and surface patterns for fashion, apparel, licensing, home and interior design. My work has since been licensed and used internationally.
Today, making art is still at the heart of what I do. I love drawing with black Indian ink, working with cardboard and color, creating textile prints and repeat patterns, building ceramic sculptures, tufting carpets and experimenting with motion graphics, collage and print. I enjoy moving between materials and disciplines and discovering what happens when they meet.
My work is inspired by everyday life, animals, nature and the little things I notice around me. I try to keep my visual language bold, simple, colourful and straightforward, with a touch of humour. I am constantly developing this language through self-initiated and commissioned projects, from surface pattern design and textile prints to illustrations, graphic novels, interior objects, art projects and limited editions.
My son Isaac and my little toy poodle Yoshi bring me plenty of daily joy, inspiration and, inevitably, a few good stories to draw about.
From Poodle to Show. Made on iPad.
Work in progress. Illustration series made on iPad. About a poodle curating an art show, including sculptures, carpets, sound, painting & performance.
Black ink. Black coffee.
Daily essentials.
Black ink is where many of my ideas begin. I use it to explore, experiment, doodle and let things happen. No plan required — just ink and a good cup of coffee. It is, without a doubt, my favourite material.
Made to measure artworks to enhance your brand universe.
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Discover my collection of exclusive all-over and ready-to-use pattern designs & illustrations for fashion, home products & interior objects, outdoor installations and printed goods. Get in touch for a password and a quote.
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I regularly work with brands and publishers to create bespoke designs or illustrations. Are you looking for strong and unique visuals to enhance your brand universe or your packaging? Get in touch!
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For websites with a graphic & colorful touch, technical drawings in adobe illustrator, small animations, graphic design for postcard, magazine, packaging, children book… contact me!
Daily life has plenty of little eMotion
I was lucky to work with
Habitat | Veritas | Parosh | Baeckens Books | Cos | H&M | KU Leuven | BeCool | Sansiri Real Estate Thailand | Robin Sprong Wallpaper | Marc Cain | Dutel Creation | Aigle | Robert Graham | Atticlo | Princesse Nomade | Made In Sens | Paperchase | La Maison Simons | Ellen Eisemann | Iosis | Catimini | Tara Blanca | Hemmers Itex | Mingo Kids | Keilhauer | Academie Waasmunster | Boqua Natural | Elke Hoste | Labora | Schurman Group | Jim Thompson | The Harlequin Group | Set | Rosenstiel's | Uniondesign | Tracy reese | The Kooples | Rei | Optiek 33 | Monica Sarti | Emile et Ida | Bensimon | Christian Wijnants | Custo | Brink&Campman | Leolux | Asos | Apointun | AnnInc | Ajidou | Boden | Erica Tessile | Essentiel | Finesse | GAP | Hobbs | Max mara | Tsumori Chisato | Daimatsu | Hokko Co Ltd | Yuma Koshino | Hermès Holding | CC De Factorij | Wham Office | AVA | Pelckmans Publishing
Pick your style for a custom project
Are you looking for strong and unique visuals to enhance your brand universe or your packaging? I can work together to create custom designs or illustrations.
