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Jan 2020
First of all, Happy New Year. On behalf of our entire team, I wish you a year full of blessings and friendships. I spent my New Year’s Eve away from home—very quietly in Antwerp—and it reminded me of my childhood and how I grew up.
In a way, the city made me think of my village in the east part of the Netherlands with only 10,000 people. A very quiet place, where I always felt like an outcast. Even though I had to consider this my “hometown”, it never truly felt like home to me. When you’re from a small town, you’re quick to stand out as being different—or maybe even weird to some.
I moved to Amsterdam in 2003. A big change. From a small village with narrow-minded people to a big international city where you meet one weirdo after another. It's not that I felt home immediately, but I did feel comfortable with the fact that the possibilities here seemed endless. There was always someone weirder than I am.
After I graduated from university, I chose to stay in Amsterdam. I found my friends here, I found love, and I started my company. I see Amsterdam as a country within a country. You'll hear so many different languages when you walk through these streets. It's impossible to stand out because it seems like there is no majority.
Even though I've lived here for over sixteen years, I still feel like I'm a visitor. The city is changing rapidly, and it can be hard to catch up sometimes. Still, I've never felt more at home then I do here in Amsterdam. I know where to get my cortado in the morning, I have my favorite running laps in the city, and every day I ride my bike to work, almost with my eyes closed (not really of course).
The most important thing, however, is that my friends are here. It's something I've learned throughout the past years. Coming from a family that created a home very far away from what home used to be, I know that home is not any given place. It's surrounding yourself with the people you feel kin to. Wherever and whomever that may be. I had a great start of the year being reminded of this, and I hope you'll find your way home as well. If you're having trouble, you know where to find us.
Olaf.
03 Jan 2023
03 Jan 2023
“I studied industrial and fashion design in Berlin and Paris. Since then I’ve worked for over a decade as designer, design manager and creative director for a variety of European fashion brands. And since a couple of years as creative director for a brand in Berlin."
“After working nonstop in the fashion industry, I was longing to take my creativity out from behind a corporate computer and create something with my own hands which led me to experiment with clay. It initially just started off as some sort of meditational practice and developed over time into my passion and second business."
“As I had only worked for other people's companies, I eventually felt the urge to create a brand that would represent my own aesthetics and values that would help enable me to share what inspired me personally. Therefore, I decided to merge this idea with my passion for crafts and interior and started my own brand 2222STUDIO under which I design, make and sell interior objects. 2222STUDIO was inspired by my lucky number and time 22:22. Since I was a teenager, I have been superstitious about it and believed that catching this time over and over was no coincidence. I always felt compelled to make wishes for a whole minute until this magic alignment of numbers passed. "
“Just do it! I believe that it’s important to start somewhere with a vision and then figure things out along the way. Too much overthinking and doubting upfront will just block you. "
“That it's so versatile, creative, and that I am independent."
“Intuitive, meditative and passionate."
"Okwukwe Na Nchekwube by Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers"
“Following and building a career for myself that reflects what I am passionate about."
“Taking on an order that exceeded my capacity and really challenged my entire setup."
“Mexico, Japan, Venice."
“Minimal and eclectic."
"All my Jackets and coats."
"I really like the work of Alicja Kwade. But my brain just picks up on everything that I see around me. It could be super and abstract, light, textures, shapes."
