1. I'm looking forward to visiting my friend Francesco Manfrotto in Padua in early November

Source: Annual visit to the Veneto

Manfrotto Tessuti is a historic shop in Padua specializing in fabrics and textiles for furniture and clothing. In the shop, you'll find the widest selection of fine fabrics and textiles, as well as fabrics and remnants in stock, ranging from silk and linen to fabrics for sofas, armchairs, and chairs.

In addition to a wide selection of home textiles and fine fabrics for sofas and armchairs, Manfrotto Tessuti also offers a rich catalog of textiles and fabrics for clothing. Silk, satin, lace, and many other solutions are examples of the highest quality products, selected to meet the diverse needs of customers and the most discerning tastes.

If you want to wear a unique, high-quality garment, or if you're a fan of custom work and want to create the perfect dress with your own hands, visit the Padua store and choose from the many options available.

Link: Sale of textiles for home | Padua | Manfrotto Fabrics

2. 15-11-2025 I am back from Padua and bought beautiful fabrics

Source: Annual visit to the Veneto

In the car on the way back, my husband complained about the amount of fabric he had to pack into the backseat and trunk. He'd also brought his bike (and luckily, the weather was beautiful, so he was able to get his miles in). Once home, I immediately got to work. A nice jacket for myself.

Some of these fabrics are listed on my website under "Just a sample of my festive fabric selection (recently from Italy)." And the production details are listed on the website under "For example, made from the Italian harvest."

Link: Sale of textiles for home | Padua | Manfrotto Fabrics

3. Shops with high-quality, exclusive and special fabrics

Nanucci Tessuti in Amsterdam offers a high-quality fabric collection in its store on Albert Cuypstraat. You'll find items like cashmere, wool (including authentic tartan), silk, and cotton. The online store has a limited selection.

Link:  https://www.nanuccitessuti.nl

 Harrie Bosch Modestoffen in Eindhoven offers a wide range of high-quality fabrics. The store carries remnants from internationally renowned designers and specializes in silk and wool.

Link:   http://www.harrieboschmodestoffen.nl

 Van Gool Stoffen has a store in Tilburg and an online store. Check out the "wedding fabrics" or "cocktail fabrics" sections in the online store to get a feel for their selection.

Link:   https://www.vangoolstoffenonline.nl

 Böttger Stoffen has a store in Alkmaar and an online store. Select "Fabric Types" in the menu under "Fabrics" for an overview of the product range.

Link:   Böttger Stoffenwinkel

 Joop Exclusive Fabrics has a physical store in Sittard. Fortunately, the collection is also available at the Utrecht fabric market and the Stoffenspektakels.

Link:   http://www.joopmodestoffen.com

 Samitex has a store in Wierden and will have a stall at the Stoffenspektakels (Fabric Spectacles). Besides a more standard selection, you can also find haute couture fabrics there.

Link:   http://www.samitex.eu

 Vlisco is a Dutch manufacturer of beautifully printed cotton fabrics. Vlisco has an online store and a factory outlet in Helmond. Hovering over the fabrics in the online store will bring up a dress, giving you a good idea of the design on a body. Also check out the inspiration section of the website.

Link:   https://www.vlisco.com

 In addition to Vlisco fabrics, Jansen Holland also sells African fabrics from other suppliers. Besides its online store, Jansen Holland also has a physical store in Helmond.

Link:  https://www.jansenholland.com/nl

 Zijdewinkel has a store in Heemskerk and an online store. Zijdewinkel specializes in many types of silk.

Link:   https://www.zijdewinkel.nl

 Jersey Fashion and Stoffen.net are online stores that offer a wide variety of mostly standard fabrics. Their selection of merino wool fabrics (S100/S120/etc. wool) is particularly striking in both stores.

Link:   https://www.jerseyfashion.nl/epages/61926197.sf/nl_NL/?ObjectPath=Categories

Link:   https://www.stoffen.net/stoffen.html

4. Interview with Marga Weimans

Link: Fashion designer Marga: 'I didn't want to participate in the system'

SOURCE: JAN 11 2024

Marga Weimans (54) is a fashion designer and artist and teaches at the Design Academy Eindhoven. "By Western standards, sustainability has been a theme that has been particularly prevalent in recent years, but it's ingrained in Surinamese culture. I've grown up accustomed to going to the tailor. A handmade garment for a special occasion was quite normal. I grew up with couture, with making my own clothes.

During my studies at the Fashion Academy in Antwerp, I worked as a dresser behind the scenes for major brands. I saw that a fashion label generates a lot of waste because you have to keep a lot of inventory. I was shocked. When I worked in a large clothing store, I also saw the reality of how much clothing is thrown away. It was a wake-up call.

I didn't want to play the system, but wanted to work in a hyper-creative way with small editions. All things considered, I knew: couture design was for me. I won a prize with my graduation collection, and back in the Netherlands, the Groninger Museum picked up my work. They told me: "You don't have to play the system. We want to make something creative together, and it doesn't matter if it takes you six months or two." It was a great way to work. People could buy a museum ticket, consume my clothes by looking at them and dreaming. And I even got paid. The icing on the cake was reaching a wider audience through fashion weeks and international attention.

My label is a cross between architecture, fashion, and couture, and consists of several collections. With my collections, I try to make a statement. My mission is to tell untold stories, stories that aren't normally addressed in fashion. In my first collection, Debut, for example, I incorporated tears and the heads of my ancestors into the fabric. That's about the history of enslaved people, who experienced fashion in an exploitative way. I love fashion; it's very deep, I'm in love with it, but I'm also critical. And I want to share that with the general public.

I saw how much clothing is thrown away and woke up

I'm currently working on a marketable collection, in small editions of ten or fifteen pieces. I'm trying to incorporate my values, such as the smart use of materials, into it. I find that very exciting; I've never worked this way before. I've always created clothes with the idea that they could be viewed remotely in a museum, like a sculpture. With this new collection, people can buy them, take them home, wear them on their skin, hang them in their closets, and express themselves with them. I'm looking forward to that, a new adventure. You might think: producing more, is that the solution for a better world? But if you wear something on your skin, you might start to think differently about the world around you.



Sustainability seems obvious to me, but as a small designer, there's only so much you can do. Real change requires change at a systemic level. Large fashion companies need regulations on how much and what they produce, and how waste is managed. They need quotas and forced to produce differently. Large fast-fashion companies like Shein are growing. It's almost madness when you think about it—we're already experiencing climate change firsthand.  I don't understand why, at the political level, people aren't thinking: this can't go on. The entire industry needs to be critically examined: from working conditions in factories to how we treat interns. It's neither healthy nor desirable that people can barely make a living from their profession and end up in poor working conditions, while so much money is being made in this industry. That's unacceptable; the system needs to be overhauled.

5. Webshop for haberdashery: de Bondt in Tynaarlo

Source: De Bondt website

The company

De Bondt is a progressive and reliable wholesaler for the crafting community. Driven by creativity and sustainability, we support retailers with innovative and responsible solutions. Our core values underpin everything we do, from product range to collaboration. Together, we're building a strong and inspiring retail world.

Their range

Our selection is extensive! In addition to our own yarn brands Scheepjes and Botter IJsselmuiden, we offer Lopi Icelandic wool, Opal, DMC, and SMC Schachenmayr yarns such as Catania, as well as crochet and knitting supplies from KnitPro, Tulip, Cohana, Addi, and Prym. For haberdashery, we carry trusted haberdashery brands Gütermann, Coats, Prym, Amann, Opti, DMC, HKM, and Pronty, as well as a very extensive range of private label items.

Working for the crafting community for 50 years

We've been around since 1972. It all began with Harmen and Marjan De Bondt, who started their company in the northern Netherlands while studying at the University of Groningen. Soon, their warehouse became too small, and the company shifted from a national to an international one. They also acquired the major yarn brand Scheepjes. Today, their son, Job de Bondt, is at the helm of De Bondt, and we export to 80 countries worldwide annually.

Link: Webshop De Bondt BV - Wholesale in Haberdashery and Crochet and Knitting Yarns | De Bondt

6.  Fashion designer Jacqueline de Ribes passed away

Source: Fashion United

Link:   Modeontwerpster Jacqueline de Ribes overleden

Paris, France – Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, nicknamed "the last queen of Paris," passed away last Tuesday, December 30, at the age of 96. The designer, businesswoman, and icon of Parisian elegance, particularly in the United States, passed away in Switzerland. Her secretary confirmed this to the AFP news agency on behalf of her family on Wednesday.

A friend of Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino, a patron, and a philanthropist, she was given an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2015. The exhibition featured approximately sixty creations, both haute couture and ready-to-wear, from her wardrobe. The oldest pieces date back to 1962.

As early as 1956, Jacqueline de Ribes was listed as one of the world's best-dressed women. In 1962, she was inducted into the fashion Hall of Fame and photographed by leading fashion photographers. The aristocrat, born Jacqueline de La Bonninière de Beaumont on July 14, 1929, had a passion for fashion and freedom from an early age. At nineteen, she married Viscount and later Count Edouard de Ribes (1923-2013). After experimenting with journalism, theater, television, and interior design, she announced the creation of her own fashion house in 1962. She did so with the encouragement of Yves Saint Laurent, whose client she was. Her first collection received a standing ovation from the international press, and the United States quickly became her most important market. She led her fashion house until 1995, when she stepped down for health reasons.

At the end of 2019, the auction of the art collection she had built up with her husband raised €22.8 million at Sotheby's France. The Louvre and the Palace of Versailles exercised their right of pre-emption on some of the pieces

7. Fashion club 70: a good formula from Belgium

Sorce: Pagina Meer nieuws, Fashion united 6 Jan. 2026

Link:  Fashion Club 70 groothandelscollectie

Today, Fashion Club 70 is one of the most renowned fashion distributors in Europe. They represent more than 50 high-end brands in over 1,700 boutiques throughout the Benelux region. Their qualified and motivated staff still embody the company's core values: loyalty, personal service, and building long-term relationships with both customers and manufacturers.

Today, Fashion Club 70 is one of the leading fashion distributors in Europe. They represent more than 50 top brands in over 1,700 boutiques throughout the Benelux. Their qualified and motivated staff still embody the company's core values: loyalty, personal service, and building long-term relationships with both customers and manufacturers. The headquarters are located in Antwerp, with several specialized sales teams, a professional customer service department, a PR & Marketing department, an in-house IT team, and a company restaurant, spread across three buildings with a total floor area of ​​15,000 square meters.

Fashion Club 70 is one of the most renowned fashion retailers in Europe. We distribute more than 50 mid-range and high-end brands to over 1,700 stores in the Benelux. Our motivated and qualified team is committed to the company values ​​of loyalty, personalized service, and long-term relationships with customers and manufacturers. The headquarters are located in Antwerp, where the sales team, marketing team, customer service, IT, and PR work together to form a well-coordinated machine.

8. Do you want to be completely up to date for the 2025-2026 winter sports season?

Source: CoutureCollege.nl

Link: Fashion in Motion #3

Palais Galliera is also hosting La Mode en mouvement #3, a presentation on the history of fashion in sports from the 18th century to the present. This third exhibition at the museum focuses on winter sports. It runs until October 12, 2025.

9. A real fabric shop, where quality comes first: Pauli in Leuven (Be)

Source: Found during a city walk

The company

Situated in the centre of Leuven and therefore easy to combine with a "day trip to Leuven" (perfect for the Dutch among us; Leuven is a 75-minute drive from The Hague and the parking facilities on the edge of the city ring are also good and certainly more affordable than in many Dutch cities).

There's certainly plenty to do in this vibrant city. It's buzzing with student life, and Leuven is the "beer capital" of the world, with museums and tasting venues to match.

Assortment and quality ranking

The selection is extensive! And the staff are knowledgeable (which is becoming increasingly rare in Dutch textile stores). Most of the fabrics are in the higher end, so if you're looking for something truly special, you'll have a great chance of finding it here. I can't think of a comparable store in the Netherlands!

Link: Pauli Fabrics | Leuven | Facebook

10. Fun reading material about "plus size" (Annemarie's blog)

Source: Grand Diva Magazine by Annemarie

Link:
plus size fashion blog | Grand Diva Magazine

On my plus size fashion blog, you can read all about plus size fashion. I share my experiences with you on clothing, styling, fit, sizing, trends, and more.

Here I'm showing you my favorite outfits and items. To inspire you to discover your own style. I also want to challenge you to experiment more with clothing. Fashion is perfect for letting your personality shine. It can also boost your self-confidence and make you feel beautiful. And even more importantly, it makes you feel beautiful!

11. MODEFABRIEK Amsterdam Fashion Trade Event 18th and 19th Jan. 2026

Source: Pagina Meer nieuws, Fashion united 6 Jan. 2026

Link:  Modefabriek

The best in women's clothing 2026. Location: Stelling 1, Vijfhuizen, Netherlands

International fashion fair, where hundreds of Dutch and international fashion brands present their latest collections to buyers twice a year. At Modefabriek, the best international buyers come to network, see and feel collections, and get inspired.



Starting in 2024, Modefabriek will offer exclusively women's clothing. With this focus, Modefabriek offers a more complete and international range of women's fashion in various styles and segments. You can find the strongest Dutch and Northern European brands, the latest women's collections from major global brands, or even the more Mediterranean, ultra-feminine brands. Modefabriek also has an area with trendy items and brands with a unique message. From skincare to size-inclusive brands and from sportswear to must-have lifestyle products.

A new season at Modefabriek means browsing countless new collections, discovering new brands, and meeting new people and old friends. Besides all the new collections, Modefabriek always has a program packed with expertise, eye-openers, trends, inspiration, and collaborations for fashion professionals. This includes Talks, the Responsible Route that guides you to labels that actively take responsibility, various brand activations, and Spotlight, the curated space for emerging and notable brands.

12. Vivian Hoorn launches 'body confident' label Viveh

 Link: By Nora Veerman

“Being able to wear what you like gives you self-confidence”

Source: Blad Mode, author Nora Veerman

"Nobody told me that starting a fashion brand could be so intense," laughs Vivian Hoorn over the phone. Luckily, she can still laugh, despite the tension. Today she's launching her own label, Viveh, a label that preaches love for bodies of all shapes and sizes—against a backdrop of a fashion industry where the standard sample size is size thirty-four.

Hoorn has worked in the fashion world for quite some time, as a model, photographer, and influencer. She's a well-known face in the body positivity movement—although she prefers the term "body confidence." She wants to reinforce to her 616,000 followers that every body can be a source of self-confidence. Hoorn knows that good clothing is important for this. Clothing that affirms: I have what it takes.

Vivian Hoorn: “You should be able to wear what you want” + “Being able to wear what you like gives you self-confidence”

Hoorn has become increasingly aware of the rarity of these clothes in recent years. "My body was changing, and it became increasingly difficult to find clothes that matched my style, that were trendy, and that I felt confident in. I hardly came across any clothes that made me think: someone who also wears a larger size thought about this." She wanted to change that, she says, for herself and for her followers. "I also want to show them that you can wear whatever you want, regardless of your body shape. It doesn't have to be revealing or dressing down. You can just wear a dress you like, and whether you have a little belly or not, you look beautiful in that dress. Period."

So, a year ago, Hoorn turned to a Dutch production company to launch her own brand. She wanted to outsource the production side, she said, so she could focus on the creative side of things. Hoorn designed the 27 styles that make up the first collection, intended for the summer season. It includes dresses, tops, pants, skirts, and swimwear, in a muted palette of black, ecru, beige, and sea blue. Stylistically, the collection is in line with Hoorn's own taste, which she describes as "classic and chic."

Samples in size 42

Just as important as the style is how the design process takes different body types into account. Instead of producing samples in a size 34 and then extracting that design to larger sizes, as most clothing brands do, Viveh was designed based on a size 42. That makes a big difference, Hoorn explains. "They take much more account of curves, and what you feel comfortable with as a wearer if you have them."

The first collection will be released in sizes 36 to 46. Hoorn herself considers that a rather narrow size range considering the diversity of her target audience. She had wanted to expand the size range before the brand's launch, including offering different lengths, but decided to wait. "We're not entirely sure yet where our target audience is, and from a sustainability perspective, we don't want to risk overstock," she explains. "I'd like to satisfy everyone right away, but the reality is that that's not immediately possible—not even financially." However, many of the garments in the first collection are stretchable and adjustable, making sizing less restrictive and allowing the clothes to fit a variety of body types.

Viveh's clothing is largely produced in Portugal, with some in Tunisia and India. The garments are made from regular and organic cotton, ecovero, viscose, linen, and recycled polyester. Hoorn admits that, based on the materials used, "we can't say Viveh is a sustainable brand." "We are consciously working on it. But finding fully sustainable materials within our price range is difficult." Viveh's current retail prices range from fifty to two hundred euros. Hoorn eventually wants to operate "as sustainably as possible," she says, but that will require new investments. To make those investments, Viveh first needs to be established in the market.

Viveh will initially be sold through its own webshop, but starting this fall—when the next collection is planned—Hoorn also wants to offer Viveh to customers through other retailers. "I want people to be able to feel the fabrics," says Hoorn. "I personally love soft fabrics, and you simply can't experience that on a website."

For now, Viveh's communication is primarily focused on women. Is Hoorn also considering a men's line? "Who knows," she says. In recent weeks, after sharing the first images, she noticed that men are already interested in some of the women's items, such as the long, thin kaftan Hoorn wears in one of the campaign images. "And my boyfriend is also wearing a Viveh blouse," she says. "For now, Viveh is for anyone who wants to wear it. The most important thing for me is that people are inspired to dress a certain way and feel confident about it. I want to receive photos of people wearing Viveh clothes who say: thanks to this dress, I had a really great day."

13. Tess van Zalinge interview

BRON: A sustainable closet

LINK: INTERVIEW #88 TESS VAN ZALINGE — A Sustainable Closet

Why we love her: A mega talent! Tess is insanely good at what she does and a true inspirer. She is not afraid to go the whole hog in order to create what comes to her mind. We love that she goes her own way and believes in what she does, because so do we! 

Tell us about yourself and your profession?

I am a conscious entrepreneur that expresses creativity and sustainability through design. I created my label in 2016 to contribute consciously with my vision and perspective. With my demi-couture collections, I aim to share stories - memories - craftsmanship techniques and to preserve all that will be forgotten. Reliving and celebrating traditions of Dutch heritage and the local design culture. My designs combine handmade tailoring, unique craftsmanship, and architectural intimates reference to offer a contemporary take on femininity.

What’s your relationship with clothes?

I conceive my collections with a holistic and conscious approach, I use material from existing productions or old ‘unwanted' clothing. Circularity in my brand is applied through the upcycling technique, every waste in the atelier is reinvented in a new design. In the last collection, Patchwork, we used all the smallest textile leftovers to create new textile with the patchwork techniques.

How would you describe your style?

The aesthetic of my label dives deep into the archives of the dutch costume wear history and redefines its beauty with an eclectic and contemporary identity. Feminine tailoring, constructed intimates, and heritage-inspired unique pieces are key for my signature. 

Where do you find inspiration?

Nature and costume museums are the places where I get inspired, where every random detail becomes a source of inspiration. In these places, I can just free my mind and let myself be surrounded by pure sensations that lead me to develop my concepts and designs. In the costume museum, I love to dive into small technical details and traditions. I think more people should learn about craftsmanship and clothing, which are deeply rooted in Dutch history and culture. 

Do you have a style icon, if yes, who?

Stella McCartney. She is an innovator who investigates and dive into details of new techniques and materials. I consider her a real pioneer.

Johannes Vermeer. He is the master of light. I made a dress with a print of one of his most known paintings: Girl with a Pearl Earring. 

Favorite stores and brands to shop from?

I love exploring the local and vintage markets around the city, in particular Laura Dols and Noordermarkt. In these places, you can find surprising vintage objects and designs, unexpected. It is always nice to be amazed by unique, interesting, and unconventional objects.

What is a sustainable closet for you?

I think the best way to have a sustainable wardrobe is to be aware of your shopping and take care of the clothing you already have. For the Fifteen collection, I used old ‘ unwanted ‘ wedding dresses and it was impressive to see the amount of all the wedding dresses. I think that the consumer is not simply the final component of the fashion chain. By changing shopping habits the consumer has the chance to ‘send a message' to the big fashion corporations.

What do you think about the fashion industry in general? 

The fashion industry is evolving towards new horizons, this change is tangible and evident but like all changes it takes time. New production techniques, innovative materials, and digital fashion development are just some of the steps that are being taken. Fashion is a vehicle for sharing a message, and I think that designers - like me - have the responsibility to use this vehicle in a good and conscious way.

What is fashion to you in 3 words?

Collective, heritage, storytelling

Any advice for people who want to start their own business or get into the industry? 

Consider first the reason that brings you to this decision, make your manifest and create a fixed list of your key principles and values.

14. Grab bag on the left

A trend-watcher's foresight for the years 2026-2027 by Peclers fashion marketing in Paris