After five years of pioneering circular fashion and social inclusion, Hul le Kes is entering a new chapter. With the introduction of Hul le Kes Atelier, and its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, the brand sharpens its course, weaving together artistic vision, craftsmanship, circularity, and social purpose at the highest level. In an in-depth conversation, Creative Director Sjaak Hullekes and Managing Director Sebastiaan Kramer reflect on the why and how of this step forward, and what it means for customers and retailers alike.
For Sjaak, the launch of Hul le Kes Atelier marks both a continuation and a deepening of the brand’s original mission. “After five years of developing Hul le Kes and experiencing the potential of bringing clothing waste back into the chain, we felt it was time for a new phase. Hul le Kes Atelier is created entirely from old textiles, produced in our own atelier specialized in upcycling. The atelier is the heart of creation, and it made sense to anchor that in the name.”
Sebastiaan describes the decision as the result of years of experience and reflection: “This moment didn’t come out of nowhere. We built enormous expertise in fully circular production, in working with post-consumer and surplus materials, and in listening closely to both retailers and individual clients. Ultimately, we realized there was a need for a collection that is even clearer, made purely from post-consumer textiles, with more refined finishing and stronger positioning. Hul le Kes Atelier is our answer.”
Unlike conventional fashion houses, Hul le Kes Atelier begins its design process not with sketches or rolls of fabric, but with discarded garments. “We start by collecting and grouping secondhand clothing that we want to work with, and only then do we design,” explains Sjaak.
“Since every garment has different proportions and histories, it’s always a surprise what the final piece will look like. Making compositions of color and texture is a continuous part of the design process; very different from traditional fashion.”
This approach underlines the brand’s belief in serendipity, in working with what already exists and allowing imperfection to guide creativity.
It results in pieces that are as unique as their origins.
The focus on post-consumer textiles also means a strict selection of materials. “We only use natural fibers like linen, cotton, wool, and silk,” says Sjaak. “They feel better on the skin and provide a truly sustainable alternative to synthetics, which neither breathe nor offer a responsible long-term solution. Our aim is to revalue the beauty of these materials and show their potential, even after a previous life.”
Hul le Kes Atelier positions itself in a higher price and finishing segment, with a clear artistic and ethical statement.
“We want retailers and clients to fall in love again with previously discarded materials,” says Sjaak. “That’s why we’ve pushed our finishing techniques to the highest level, demonstrating that imperfection, when handled with care, can embody true beauty.”
Sebastiaan adds: “Luxury and circularity can go hand in hand. This collection proves that artisanal excellence, social engagement, and sustainability are not opposites but allies. We believe this is the future of luxury.”
Though the course is sharpened, the core philosophy remains unchanged. “Everything that Hul le Kes has always stood for is still here,” Sjaak emphasizes. “In fact, it’s even more visible in Hul le Kes Atelier. This is not a departure from our past, but a deepening of it.”
Sebastiaan agrees: “Each garment embodies all of Hul le Kes’ principles: circularity, social inclusion, craftsmanship, and artistry. Every piece contains handwork, carried out in our Recovery Studio, ensuring that every item contributes not only to circular fashion but also to mental resilience and social healing.”
The Atelier collection is produced through close collaboration between the two Hul le Kes studios.
“At the Manufacturing Studio, the garments are created with high-end finishing,” Sebastiaan explains, “while the Recovery Studio adds details such as hand-stitched logos. Together, they ensure that each piece represents what we stand for: local production, social impact, circular practice, and artistic vision at the highest level.”
Retailers will be able to preview and purchase the collection during Paris Fashion Week, from October 3rd to 6th, at the showroom on Rue Jean Lantier.
“They can expect garments that are refined, classic, and unmistakably designer pieces,” says Sebastiaan. “No item is ever the same due to the post-consumer textiles, yet together they form a coherent family thanks to our careful selection and Sjaak’s design eye. It shows that luxury, design, and scaling circular practices are not mutually exclusive but entirely possible.”
The first pieces of Hul le Kes Atelier will be available in stores starting Spring 2026. “Working with post-consumer materials is extremely labor-intensive,” Sebastiaan notes. “Each post-consumer garment has to be collected, cleaned, disassembled, and reassembled before becoming a new garment, part of the collection. This is slow fashion at its truest form.”
Sebastiaan points out that Hul le Kes clients are diverse but connected by values. “Many are creative professionals, such as designers, architects, actors, photographers; people conscious not only of their appearance but also of their social impact.
Increasingly, we also see clients drawn to us for our uncompromising circular approach and our social mission. And of course, there are those who simply fall in love with the quality and fit. Hul le Kes Atelier is designed for all of them.”
For Sjaak, the artistic vision of Hul le Kes is not changing, but becoming sharper.
“We don’t believe in creating new designs every season. If a design is strong, if it becomes a classic, it should always be available. The process of finding the right materials is part of the ongoing design journey. In this sense, Hul le Kes Atelier reflects five years of making and refining; it’s the essence of what we’ve always stood for.”
Both Sjaak and Sebastiaan hope the collection inspires people to rethink fashion itself. “We want people to fall in love with the quality, the fit, and the story behind each garment,” says Sjaak. “To realize that what was once discarded can become something extraordinary.”
Sebastiaan concludes: “This is what we mean by the new luxury. Not overproduction or fast trends, but clothing with character, meaning, and impact. Fashion that doesn’t just change the way you look; but changes the world around you.”
