▪︎ STORYTELLING ▪︎
EDUCATION & INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNER
▪︎ Click on the anchor text ▪︎
After my graduation from the MEAO School of Business Administration and Economics, I went to HKU Utrecht School of the Arts and Design. During my study I did an internship in Paris at XULY.Bët. In 2002 I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design. Afterwards I launched my independent fashion brand selling my own handmade fashion collections at several high end boutiques, concept stores for young fashion designers and galeries in the Netherlands and in Belgium. These were very exciting and inspiring years with several creative collaborations. Tough times came when being confronted with the recession in 2008 and 2009. I decided to take a break and to work for different corporate companies on several non creative projects in Finance and Administration. Nevertheless I did a couple of fashion projects like for example Con Amore 2010 and Emotional Intellegence 2012.
In these past years I still had the aspiration to pratice my work as a designer having my own creative business to serve others. By the end of 2021 I went to the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce to (re)launch my business. As a young designer I started my atelier at home where all dream designs come to life. This allows me to focus more and more on the creative aspects of the business to take my brand to the next level.
MASTERCLASS COUTURE CORSETS & INTERNSHIP
▪︎ Click on the anchor text ▪︎
In october 2023 I did a Masterclass Couture Corsets by couturier Leon Klaassen Bos. In the past Leon worked for Balenciaga and at Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture he got his training in refinement. This unique savoir-faire is applied to designs for private clients, special projects and the prêt-à-porter line of Atelier LeonLeon.
During the Masterclass I was impressed by Leons knowledge and I noticed his great personalty. While we were talking Leon offered me an internship at his atelier in Amsterdam. I was so excited and immediatly I said yes to him. So every friday from november 2023 untill now I'm having a great time at Leons atelier with other coworkers. I'm learning so much about refinement and we're really having fun at the same time.
ORIGIN & CHILDHOOD
▪︎ Click on the anchor text ▪︎
I am an descendant of grandparents who were KNIL-soldiers. I was born and raised in the Netherlands. Originally I come from the Maluku Islands, located in Eastern Indonesia. The Moluccas have a rich history. In March 1951 the Moluccan people together with my grandparents and their children were brought to the Netherlands by the Dutch gouvernment initially on temporary basis, but history took another path. They had to stay in different places in the Netherlands and my familiy were placed in barracks in the former concentration camp Vught, later called Woonoord Lunetten.
Untill I was 12 years old I lived in barrack number 4 with my parents and siblings. For me it was a very happy time and we had a lovely carefree youth. I remember that my mother teached me how to make clothes. When we were little she regularly made us clothes. My lovely parents are Christians and led a Christian lifestyle always helping those who were in need, a legacy we have to continue. As a matter of fact my late father was a business minded person. He always motivated us to work hard, be creative, independent and to build our own businesses. So all of my 4 siblings are business owners. It runs in the family. There is so much more to tell, but long story short: I thank God for my lovely parents for their wisdom for us in life. They truly are my inspiration!
If you have any questions? Please feel free to reach out with your thoughts. With love ♥ Sonja Ayal
CONTACT FORM
QUESTIONS | COMMENTS | APPOINTMENT REQUEST | GET IN TOUCH