THE LIVING COAT

In Haarlem, a city not far from Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, large trees thrive just outside the expansive glass windows of Meta Struycken‘s spacious apartment, where she enjoys working from home. It’s always a bit messy there, with yarns and textiles scattered everywhere.

Meta reflects on the historical significance of domestic craft. “For centuries, women mended and renewed clothes at home. Clothes were expensive and therefore treated with respect and care. Today, we should buy less but better and take care of these garments when damaged or when we grow bored with them. I love the idea of reimagining domestic handicrafts and placing them into a contemporary setting to repair or reinvent a wardrobe staple.”

After graduating from ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem, Meta embarked on a career as a fashion designer, worked at a forecasting agency that produced trend books, and eventually became the creative director of the Dutch Fashion Institute. “In 2002, I launched a successful fashion trade magazine called newStyle with my beloved husband, Simon. After his sudden death in 2020, I realised life can be over in a blink of an eye and decided to change course and start working on projects I really like.”

“My work is very intuitive. The starting point can be a texture, a brushstroke, a quick scribble, a painting technique. Art serves as a significant source of inspiration because it’s not made just for a season; it’s intended to last. I’d make a quick sketch and just start. Sometimes the outcome is immediately good and sometimes not. Creating requires effort, dedication, and experimentation. Challenges are inevitable—but the satisfaction that comes from it is incredibly rewarding.”

Currently, Meta is preparing a book titled STITCH!, set to be published this winter. “It will not be a step-by-step maker’s guide but rather a tool to spark your imagination and help you (re)discover the joy of making things by hand. My aim is to raise awareness of the beauty of simple domestic textile crafts and to inspire people to repair and (re)make their own clothes. It will be a comprehensive book filled with many, many stitches!”

Meta emphasizes the importance of repair, reuse, and reimagination as a response to fast fashion. “It’s crystal clear we should be more conscious of the impact of our shopping habits and need a profound rethink of how the fashion industry operates. Companies hide the true environmental costs, and so far, governments have not made decisive efforts to drive the industry toward sustainability. Therefore, the key to a healthier world lies in the hands of consumers. Each of us influences the future of our planet through our buying choices. We need to start ‘living with’ clothes instead of treating them like garbage.”