Dutch glovemaker builds following in Hollywood and beyond
Dutch couture glovemaker Jeanne Hermans has nearly a quarter of a million followers on social media, with several of her videos drawing millions of views.
Her designs – which often feature embroidered elements like butterflies, flowers and pearls – have been worn by stars like Cher, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus, costing anywhere from 300 to 975 euros ($350-$1,140). Yet she still makes everything by hand from her small studio in the Netherlands.
Speaking with Reuters in her studio in Zaandam, a quiet city about 20km north of Amsterdam, the 30-year-old reflects on building her business with a small team, what it’s like to see celebrities wear her designs and whether fast fashion poses a threat to small makers like her.
“I studied at the Master Tailor Institute in Amsterdam, a school specialised in tailors’ craftsmanship, but because I had been sewing since I was nine, I was ahead of all my classmates and I was a little bored. One of my teachers had a book on leather glove making and I thought that was interesting so I started experimenting.
“I also wanted my own company and for a poor student gloves were perfect because they require little fabric. I bought one roll, made some gloves in 2017, and since almost nobody else is making the type of gloves I make, I managed to build a full-time business out of it.
“It helps a lot to see someone famous wear my work. You feel seen. I also thought Cher wearing my gloves was really exciting. Many celebrities who wear my designs are younger, but when I told my mom about Cher, she was really impressed.
“But to be honest, while it is so amazing that many celebrities have worn my gloves, it’s not as satisfying as creating a really difficult design.
On celebrity stylists finding her, she said, “It started when I launched my ‘Glove of the Week’ series on Instagram in 2022. As a challenge, I made a pair of gloves every week because I had too many ideas and it made me freeze. I stayed consistent, and after about 10 months my Instagram really boomed. That’s where most stylists find me or they recommend me to other stylists.
“Also, there’s almost no one making the kind of gloves I do. Some make traditional opera gloves, but no one is doing gloves with butterflies or heavy embroidery.”
She said her gloves being worn on the cover of Vogue India was definitely a highlight of her career.
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