Tessa Koops, a Dutch dressmaker, has crafted women's attire with bold prints and soft shapes. Her bright, old-school style is well-known in the Netherlands. Koops has gained a group of bold women who love new ideas in what they wear.
Tessa notes, "The word 'joyful' might seem easy, but from what I've seen, it really makes people happy." She adds, "Your clothes change your mood; they can pick you up and show your true self." This idea is key in her work, creating outfits that let people blend with the world and, more importantly, feel good. Koops' designs stay fresh and don't follow passing fads. "Styles change, and I change too," she says. She makes it clear that her clothes are for women who want to shine in their own way. "I don't make loud clothes, but they are worn by loud, strong women," she states. "My designs stand out and have plenty of spirit. Women are confident in my clothes because they are not just following the latest thing but are boosting their own style."
Mixing girly and boyish styles, Koops puts bold and soft looks together with ease. Her art is in her work, from big pants and tops to large shirts and long wrap dresses that show both toughness and beauty. Talking about ways to dress today, she says, "Women now like to wear strong boots with a dress, not just fancy shoes. I keep that in mind when I design clothes. For me, a dress is always a key choice."
For Koops, making fresh clothes starts with the touch of the fabric or its look. She shares, "It nearly always starts with the look." To her, a piece changes with the cloth—it might turn into a light dress or a hard coat. Her range has her own ideas and those made by European designers. These are changed in color, look, size, and style to make them stand out. "Each time, I go for color sets that pull me in, like warm colors for fall or cool blue-green blends for summer," she adds.
Koops still likes to work on pieces by herself, often cutting them to see how they fit together, keeping it very hands-on. "I don't use tech drawings. I shape by feel. Working from a sketch is not a looped task, but a woman is three-dimensional."
Looking ahead, Tessa finds her spark in Spain, a place that gives her joy both at work and in life. The Spanish way of life and its art, where 'flaneren' is a craft, fit well with her strong yet fine style and the feel of her shop. Also, going global, being social, and thinking green are becoming more key in her brand: "It's not so much in my styles as in how we think about clothes and how we wear them."
Tessa Koops sticks to her path: making clothes for women who want to live with style and fun. Her blend of bright looks, soft cloths, and close feel make her brand a hit with both shops and buyers. "With my brand, I aim to give women, especially creative ones, a playful vibe. Being playful keeps surprising you, and it shapes who you are."