#AnInterview! Welcome to The World of HENKJENZ! The 4th KALTBLUT Fashion Award Winners. HENKJENZ is a young fashion brand from Rotterdam, Netherlands. During Fashionclash Festival the young brand by designer Juliëtte Heijnen and Maurice Muller unveiled its winning collection: The Avocado vs. Mayonaise! The World of HENKJENZ is all about respect, acceptance, instinct and excitement. We are proud to introduce you to the KALTBLUT Fashion Award 2018 winners: HENKJENZ.
KALTBLUT: Congratulations – You’re the 4th winner of the KALTBLUT Fashion Award. Welcome to the KALTBLUT family. Can you remember what you thought when we called out your name?
HENKJENZ: Thanks for choosing us as the 4th winner and welcoming us to the KALTBLUT family. Actually I was still busy in my head with the show that I didn’t hear it. Maurice tapped me on my shoulder and said: He! HENKJENZ! HENKJENZ! We were so flabbergasted and happy, we didn’t expect to win.
KALTBLUT: We met in Maastricht during Fashionclash Festival and got to know each other. And I had already fallen in love with your work as a designer a few years ago. How important is a fashion festival like Fashionclash for a young fashionbrand like you?
HENKJENZ: Festivals like Fashionclash are very imported for young fashionbrands It gives you a real opportunity to get in touch with international professionals compared to other fashion weeks we know so far. We always felt we could walk up to the people who were already in the business, to ask them for feedback so we could use this information to grow as a brand.
KALTBLUT: Can you tell us something about the collection you presented at the FASHIONCLASH Festival 2018? What was your inspiration?
HENKJENZ: The Avocado vs. Mayonaise collection is about body positivity. We feel like there is no stereotypical beauty anymore. We are all individuals and we don’t have to live up to any expectations anymore, just be yourself even if you feel like social media or people tell you different.
KALTBLUT: What kind of material did you used for the collection?
HENKJENZ: The materials we used are mostly tech fabrics, jersey, bamboo, fleece and wool.
KALTBLUT: What challenges did you face during the design process?
HENKJENZ: Deadlines are probably our biggest challenge , because the further we are in the process, the more extra ideas come into our minds to add to the collection. That is also the most fun part when it actually comes together at the end, in time.
KALTBLUT: How would you describe your self and your work?
HENKJENZ: As a person we accept the people around us the way they are and find it very importent that they feel at ease. Further we find life sometimes to exciting that we act like “wierdos” for some people, just because we all have to have fun in life and don’t have to take it all too serieus. And that’s also were The World of HENKJENZ is all about respect, acceptance, instinct and excitement.
KALTBLUT: What would you say that is the biggest influence to your design process?
HENKJENZ: The world around us has the biggest influence in our design proces, because most the time we use social themes for our collections.
KALTBLUT: What is your favorite piece of the collection? And why?
HENKJENZ: The Long Neon Tech Body Warmer is our favorite piece, because we love the tech flock print fabric and we feel it’s a practical unique piece.
KALTBLUT: You design for men. Can you explain who the HENKJENZ costumer is? And what he is doing in his life?
HENKJENZ: A HENKJENZ costumer feels free to wear what ever he wants and has his own style and vision on fashion. In his life his friends are very important and probably has a career in the creative business.
KALTBLUT: I think it’s really cool that your collection is ready to go directly to stores. And I see it in Berlin, London and New York. Where do you sell your fashion?
HENKJENZ: HENKJENZ is very soon available at our own webshop, so keep yourself updated by checking our Instagram!
KALTBLUT: Could you tell us a little about your background ?!. How did you guys grow up?
HENKJENZ: We both grew up as an only child, Maurice is born and raised in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and a real city boy. Juliette is born in Roermond (The Netherlands) and raised in Swalmen a small village near Roermond. We have a similar background, we are both raised to be free in who and what we want to be and to have respect for everybody around us.
KALTBLUT: Have you always wanted to do fashion? And can you still remember your first self-designed piece? What was it, and for whom?
HENKJENZ:
Maurice: Fashion has always been an important part of my life with the way I dress, but I never really thought about it. It’s all because I met Juliette who studied Fashion Design. So I do mostly the communication part and feedback during the design proces, I never really designed a piece.
Juliette: As a young girl I saw a fragment of a Viktor and Rolf show on television and knew this is what I want to do when I grow up, not understanding at all what they where doing but all the models looked so interesting and pretty. So I started with drawings and later on I dressed my Barbies in paper and fabric left overs.
KALTBLUT: We are delighted to work with you. And to present your label here in Germany and internationally. We are planning exciting things with you. Have you ever been to Berlin? And what do you know about the fashion world here?
HENKJENZ: We’ve been to Berlin (Alternative Fashion Week) and really like the city with her underground vibe. We think that also reflects the fashion that’s worn in Berlin. You have the traditional designers for your everyday closet, but also the underground, more alternative designers who serve you outstanding pieces to give your outfit an upgrade or for a night out into town. So we see Berlin as one of the better markets for HENKJENZ.
KALTBLUT: Thanks for the interview .. Our readers will learn a lot more about you in the coming months. Do you have a tip for young designers out there who want to live the same dream that you live?
HENKJENZ: We’re sure there are plenty of tips, for starters; Never stop dreaming of a fashioncareer! Find people in the business you can go to for professional feedback and even more important; Use this feedback. We all have to alter our ideas, but it’s the challenge to keep the same thoughts and message behind your brand and make it stronger by using the feedback you get from those people who know their business.
Follow www.instagram.com/henkjenz / Web
Special thx to fashionclash.nl
all photos by Team Peter Stiger teampeterstigter.com
