There’s a reason Florian van Zuilen has created a cult following for her brand of wardrobe essentials. Her elevated organic-cotton basics not only act as versatile foundation pieces for any matter of looks, the refined tanks and tees are also ultra-flattering, with every design expertly cut to suit all shapes. Try them on and you’ll quickly find they’re the staples you’ll be wearing on repeat and ordering in every colour. We catch up with the Amsterdam-based designer to find out the inspiration behind founding her own label and what drives her attention to detail.

Your family has a long history in the fashion industry - your parents even met at textile college. How did your upbringing influence your decision to launch your own business and how has it shaped your perspective and practice as a designer?                                 

 

Alongside running a family business, my parents also started their own fashion brand which they ran for thirty years, specialising in knitwear. I travelled with my mother to factories, in Italy and Asia, already from a young age. This is where I learned everything about quality fabrics, product development, the right dimensions. This craftmanship and eye for detail is what I bring to my FLORE FLORE designs.                                                                                             

My parents also taught me to find a way to serve and stay consistent with it. They have nothing to do with my business because they really wanted me to create a dream of my own, with the hard work that comes with it. I have built FLORE FLORE from scratch, carving my path as a designer in the same way that I move through life, using my creativity and intuition as a guiding principle. And thereby creating a world of my own that I can share with others.

 

 

 

You have worked with both Diane von Furstenberg in New York and GANNI in Copenhagen. How did your time observing the ever-changing influences of these contrasting cities shape your vision for Flore Flore?                                                                                             

I think what I brought back home after gaining working experience in these inspiring cities, is that I felt the urge to go back to my home base and back to basics. Creating things that last, instead of keeping up with trends.                                                                               

 

From designing a range with silhouettes to suit all individuals to working with a predominately female production team, empowering women is a key cornerstone of your brand. Who would you say have been the greatest female influences and icons in your own life?       

 

My grandmother and my best friends.

 

We are so excited to have launched Flore Flore here at Mode Sportif as an Australian exclusive. What styles do you find yourself wearing on repeat?

 

I wear the Esmé Tank and the Car Tee a lot myself. And even layer them to create a bit more volume!

 

 

 

[collection]flore-flore[/collection]