O dear, it’s been way to long since the last Kindred Spirits interview! But luckily I have a really nice one for you now! As you may know it’s been almost a year since we moved to the cutest town in Holland and one of the clothing stores in particular stood out for me even before I moved here. It’s called Trade Studio and it has the most beautiful Scandinavian brands. I asked the owner Karen Staal some questions and she was nice enough to answer them for me and I’m really proud to have my Trade Studio closet photographed. You can check it out here. For those of you who are planning a visit to my dear city do make sure to visit!
What kind of shop is Trade Studio?
Trade studio is a light boutique in Haarlem in the area HoutZuid. The basis of the collections lies with classics and timeless pieces, that are enhanced with a considerable amount of Scandinavian style. Many of our labels come from Denmark and surprise us again and again with their simple beauty. Next to that personal advice is key, we gladly search for a style that really represents the individual.
How long have you been owner and what is your background?
I’ve been owner of the store for nearly two years now. Before that the it was owned by Lone Sorensen, she started the store almost 32 years ago. About 5 years ago I came to work for Lone as a weekend help and from there I grew to being a company leader for Saint Tropez during my studies Small business and Retail Management. Which I eventually never finished because I thought working in a store was so much more fun, and suddenly I was 21 and the new owner of Trade Studio.
What are your favorite brands and why?
Jeez, that is a hard one. During my rounds of purchases I try everything on myself and I really choose only the things I really like. So there is nothing in the store that I wouldn’t wear myself. But if I would really have to choose than Won Hundred and Graumann are my favorites at the moment. Such beautiful fabrics, ladylike, elegant and tough.
What are the trends for the coming summer and fall?
For this spring I especially like the trend with the printed trousers combined with the sweaters that are coming into style and that are not just to wear to the gym any more. With that the suite (blazer with baggy pantalon) is still a favorite and every year I fall for another color or a slightly different kind off material.
Do you have any good tips on how to maintain a good selection of items in your wardrobe?
Invest in a couple of good quality basics. They are the least favorite thing to buy but the most essential to have in your closet. You can always fall back on them and you can create a new outfit with them time and again that fits your ‘mood’ . With a couple of sneakers and a large vest for instance, and the other time with a pair of heels and a blazer. With that you can give it a nice twist with a nice belt or a beautiful scarf.
What are your plans for the future?
I have a lot of plans sometimes a little too many I think. For now we are very busy with the webshop that will go online in April with the new spring collection. And next to that I’m already secretly dreaming about a second store…
{Trade Studio can be found in the Grote Houtstraat 152 / Haarlem. There is a saving system you can join which gives you a discount of 8% on your purchases}
{For all you Dutch and Belgian readers: don’t forget to join my TimeCapsule giveaway which ends on the 1st of April}
