Eva Schalckens

Production locations

• Belgium (Sinaai)

Working conditions & living wages

Eva makes every piece herself, by hand, in her own atelier. As the only person producing, there is no external factory and she sets her own hours and pay within Belgium’s regulated labour framework.

Materials

• Deadstock and leftover fabric 
• Cutting scraps reused in new pieces

Eva states that she buys her fabric mostly from surplus fabric reseller. She chooses natural materials such as wool, silk, cotton and linen wherever she can. Working from leftover fabric means she avoids ordering new material. 

Packaging

• Belts are delivered in a reusable cotton pouch. 
• Paper and cardboard are used as packaging materials.

Water usage & chemicals

By choosing deadstock fabric, Eva avoids the production of new textiles, and with it the water, dyeing and chemical processes that new fabric would require. 
Is deadstock the sustainable solution the fashion industry needs? Read here more about it. 

Eva prefers natural fibres, so few synthetic materials are used. As a result, the shedding of microplastics is minimal.

Circular product design

Eva’s pieces are made from leftover and deadstock fabric, and she keeps her cutting scraps and works them into new creations wherever possible, describing her approach as ​“Zero Waste”. 
Her accessories often combine an outer fabric with a lining or reinforcement, and these are not always the same fibre, which can make a finished piece harder to recycle at end of life. 

Circular business models

Eva runs a repair service at the atelier, and because she prefers not to hold large stock, much of her rental runs through the clothing library Dressr in Mortsel, where part of her collection can be rented. 
For those who would rather make or mend themselves, she sells sewing patterns and runs workshops, including a dedicated repair workshop.

She also nudges customers towards a more considered way of shopping. Her e‑book, ​“8 steps to a timeless wardrobe: From underwear to maintenance”, encourages buying less and better and points readers on to more sustainable initiatives. 

Distance & complexity of the supply chain

• Production: Belgium (Sinaai)
• Fabric sourcing: Belgium and Italy

Eva’s supply chain is short and simple: she designs, cuts and finishes everything herself in one atelier in Belgium, using fabric bought in Belgium and Italy. 

Transportation

• Local postal services are used for e‑commerce shipping.
• Customers can try on and collect their orders in person on site.

• Wool
• Silk

Eva works with natural fibres including wool and silk, which are animal-derived. Because these come from deadstock fabric, no new animal fibres are produced for her pieces. Instead, she rescues material that already exists and gives it a second life. 
With deadstock fibres, the original source can usually not be traced back or verified.

Product design

Eva designs accessories, like belts, scarves (stolas), bags and glasses cases, alongside personal styling services aimed at women. 

Costumers can compose their own customised belt, choosing the colours and materials yourself. 

The style is timeless and geometric, and each design is named after a London Underground station. 

Slow fashion processes

Eva does not work in seasonal collections. She avoids overproduction by matching production to demand and deliberately keeps little to no stock.

Many pieces are one of a kind, because she works with limited quantities of leftover fabric. 

Transparency on product

On each product page, Eva typically lists the materials and the key features. Every page also spells out her made-to-order approach. 
In terms of traceability, costumers can always trace a purchase back to Eva herself, handmaking it in her Belgian atelier. 

Transparency on processes

Eva publishes a manifesto setting out her values, names her fabric suppliers, states where she produces, and explains why her prices are what they are. 
On top of that, customers can visit her atelier in Sinaai in person, and can even book an appointment to feel the fabrics, get advice and see how she works.