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For us, fashion is about emotion, memory, identity and society. Led by designers and founders Sjaak Hullekes and Sebastiaan Kramer, Hul le Kes embraces imperfection, craftsmanship and transience as the foundation of its artistic vision.
Sjaak Hullekes and Sebastiaan Kramer draw inspiration from nostalgic island life, the life of the artist and gardening: a slower rhythm as a counterbalance to the pace of the modern world. A world for people with character and authenticity.
Old repairs, the unpredictability of natural materials and traces of use are not concealed but embraced. Just like people, textiles gain depth over time, and imperfections tell their own story.
Every item and collection by Hul le Kes stems from a love of craftsmanship, art and social engagement. Materials discarded by society form the starting point of the creative process. Hul le Kes gives existing materials a new life filled with meaning and beauty.
Serendipity plays an important role within the creative process. At Hul le Kes, it is about the meeting of material, people and nature. Unexpected combinations of fabrics, textures and techniques create collections that feel intuitive, artistic and deeply connected to our ecosystem.
Sjaak Hullekes (Zierikzee, NL, 1981) and Sebastiaan Kramer (Heemstede, NL, 1985) met while studying Fashion Design at ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem. Since graduating, they have worked together as entrepreneurs within the fashion industry.
Since 2018, they have been building Hul le Kes together: their response to the current fashion system, in which they put a social and circular alternative into practice. Hul le Kes is a direct translation of their philosophical vision on the social and ecological challenges of our time.
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June 3, 2026
Hul le Kes has been awarded the prestigious Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium 2026, recognising its unique vision on social and circular fashion. The award marks the beginning of a new creative chapter, introducing Hul le Kes Collectable, Monumental and several special events in Arnhem.