Liesl De Ridder is 25 and currently resides in Borås, Sweden, where she is studying at The Swedish School of Textiles. Liesl has experience in design, styling, production, costume design and has already participated in several exhibitions.

Where did your passion for fashion originate?

From a young age, I always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. My grandfather was a tailor and my biggest fan. As a little girl, I would design with my "Topmodel" sketchbook at my grandmother's. She taught me all the basics, from hand-sewing to knitting. It quickly became clear that this would be my path, so already in high school, I chose to study fashion.

What is the idea behind your dress?

When designing, I always start by creating fabric samples. It's something I love to do, manipulating fabrics, creating textures, making prints, knitting... anything you can imagine. From there, the story or concept emerges. LolaLiza is a brand that represents strong women, and I was eager to tap into that. The three dresses I designed during the LolaLiza Fashion School each represent one of the strong women in my life, my three grandmothers: Marie-Josée, Sieglinde, and Maria Josepha. That last one became my chosen final design.
For this, I created a floral print inspired by the beautiful flowers in my grandmother's garden and veranda. I love vibrant colors, and the same goes for my grandmother. I chose purple and green, which symbolize mystery on one hand and life and nature on the other.
The cut of the dress is poofy and airy, perfect for a summer vacation. The off-shoulder sleeves and open back add that extra touch. Comfortable yet fashionable on vacation. The matching earrings are derived from the same print.

Where does the style of LolaLiza match yours?

Prints and vibrant colors are definitely a common denominator. Striving for women's empowerment is also something we align with.

How was the collaboration with LolaLiza throughout the whole process?

It was a very enjoyable and educational process. As a designer, I'm very free and often create bold and unconventional garments. Working for a commercial brand naturally requires some adjustment, which was very interesting and enriching. It was nice to meet new people with different styles during the boot camp. Then, collaborating with the entire team was sometimes challenging to precisely find or create what we as designers had in mind, but together we managed to create a perfect harmony between LolaLiza and myself.

Why did you enroll in the LolaLiza Fashion School?

I wanted to gain experience in the fashion industry. A brand like LolaLiza is very different from what I'm used to, but I could learn a lot from it. Additionally, through this opportunity, I can see my own creation hanging in the store, a great chance for a budding designer!