Involved in year 2020 – now 

I have been working in the fashion industry for more than thirty years and have a strong interest in innovation and alternative economic systems. As the owner of the childrenswear brand Muy Malo and as a buyer for many major retailers, I have come to know the fashion industry inside and out and have seen it change drastically from quality to quantity and from creativity to business. That is why I completed the CSR and Sustainability program at ESAA Rotterdam in 2018 and started working as a consultant in corporate social responsibility and sustainability for large textile companies. But that was not where the change we needed could be found. Through a research project I then became involved with The Linen Project first as a Linen Steward and later as a member of the core team.

I am interested in geopolitics and the various transitions that are taking place. At the same time I am a creative person and enjoy making crochet and knitting pieces.

What does the stewardship mean to you?

The stewardship has been a true eye opener for me. By working on the land myself, feeling the soil, experiencing the weather and watching the flax grow I came to understand the making process of textiles in a deeper almost physical way. That direct experience changed something in me and brought me closer to the origin of materials and to the essence of the craft.

I wish every textile professional in the commercial world could have this experience. Only when you have felt what it takes to grow raw materials yourself does the final product gain a new meaning and value and with that a deeper appreciation for the people in the production chain often in distant countries.

Working together as a group enriched me. I met people I would never have encountered otherwise and it was precisely the diversity of backgrounds and ideas that made it so special. The shared creativity was contagious and brought me back to my own creative path. At the same time I discovered new skills, from papermaking to spinning and weaving, which broadened my perspective on textiles even further.

One of the most special moments was sewing my own linen jeans by hand, stitch by stitch. That process was intense, meditative and incredibly satisfying.

It reawakened the adventurer and researcher in me.

The stewardship is a rich ongoing experience. Returning to the land each season together with other stewards continues to inspire and deepen the journey. It is a path that keeps unfolding.

Relevant specialisation

Knitting and crochet

Things I would like to learn

I would still like to learn how to weave on a hand loom and try spinning flax on a spinning wheel again and see what else may come my way.

Joan den Exter 
Breda