WOOHOO! IT’S KEECIE’S 15TH BIRTHDAY!
I meet Klaartje in café Superette in Amsterdam-Oost. Klaartje started Keecie 15 years ago. High time to let her talk about Keecie then and now.
Klaartje has to laugh at this. "It all started off like a piece of cake: fresh out of art school, selling handmade bags made of recycled leather on Queen's Day!
I already had a job at that time and started selling bags with my then colleague Caroline Borger. We made them from leather from old sofas and coats that we bought at the thrift store and found on the street.
It was actually an immediate success. And with the proceeds we bought new leather in Brabant. With that we made our very first design: the Window Shopper ! This is a shopping bag that is still in the collection.
For friends I screen printed t-shirts for their band and I thought it would be fun to screen print a living room on the inside of the bag so that you always have your living room with you. And so from the beginning the screen printing was already a unique Keecie feature.
Soon we were in a pop-up store at the Modefabriek and our bags were picked up by various magazines. That led to orders from stores. We were really super happy".
Did the Keecie bag from back then look the same as the one from today?
"Actually yes, because Keecie's concept was immediately very clear: a functional design with a vintage look that will last your whole life. And the screen printing on the inside!
The idea that Keecie could become successful came at the moment we were at a German fair. We got 30 orders! And at that time we only had about five products in the collection. We were jumping for joy. And the nice thing is, there were shops that are still Keecie customers."
Is the location where you work important to you?
"Yes, that is really very important. After about three years I continued alone with Keecie and I noticed how important it is to be able to brainstorm with other designers. My studio in the old building of the Volkskrant turned out to be an ideal meeting place. With our neighbours Snurk Beddengoed we moved twice to a new larger studio. We still share a space together, us upstairs and Snurk downstairs. So handy to be able to walk downstairs to ask for advice or exchange experiences".
What do you like most about being an entrepreneur?
"The creative side! The photoshoots, the trade fair stand and designing the prints and new bags. A new design has usually been in my head for a while. And then the final design is often very different from the first sketch. Together with Sandy I work it out and we make a first version. During the production process - see also the blog Making off - a lot changes. For example, we choose a different closure or to do the stitching on the outside instead of on the inside".
Do you have a favorite Keecie?
"I often use the Elephant Joke , because it fits so much. But the Picking Flowers , Lunch Break and the Wish Tree also have a small advantage. In addition, the Window Shopper is of course very close to my heart. The first real Keecie!
But I actually find all our models special. And it gives a very special feeling to see someone walking by with a Keecie bag. Recently even in a tiny street in Paris. And I am actually also proud to have designed a special collection for both the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum".
Any further plans for the future?
"After 15 years, Keecie is still standing strong. Keecie stands for sustainable, timeless Dutch design. Bags, wallets and accessories with a vintage touch that will last a lifetime. And the screen printing of course.
And furthermore we look at where our energy will flow from. International is certainly part of that. Last week we got a request from Japan! That is of course always very special.
With Keecie I really found my place 15 years ago. And now together with the Keecie team, I know for sure that this will continue for the next 15 years!"
Interview by: Kim Daalhuizen
