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#12 Kathrin Eckhardt - From Fashion Journalism to Design, from Switzerland to Ghana

Author
Jeanne du Sartel
Published
Tue 17 Nov 2020
Episode Link
https://shows.acast.com/brillantes/episodes/12-kathrin-eckhardt-from-fashion-journalism-to-design-from-s

With her beautiful woven baskets, colourful chairs and benches or exclusive printed clothing, the Swiss designer Kathrin Eckhardt mixes the craftsmanship of her adopted country, Ghana, with European tastes and standards.


In this interview, Kathrin tells me what inspired her, one day in 2015, to give up her career as a journalist and fashion stylist to settle in Ghana out of love.


The Swiss woman looks back on her difficult beginnings in this faraway country and explains how she managed, over time, to integrate and understand the local rules and customs, to finally become the entrepreneur she is today. 

Ghana has now become her second home. Here, Kathrin founded her design label, a studio and her network of artisans. 


I ask Kathrin about her lifelong interest in fashion, but also about her career in the media industry, especially at the famous NZZ am Sonntag. We discuss the evolution of these two industries and Kathrin tells how the economic difficulties and her thirst for freedom and creativity pushed her on the path of entrepreneurship. 


The designer recounts her learnings, but also her fears and difficulties. We talk about money and negotiation of course, as well as creativity, inspiration and freedom. 

In this discussion, Kathrin opens her heart and allows us all to be inspired by her sincerity, independence and strength. 

So don't miss a minute and enjoy this new episode of Brillantes! 




Time codes 


03:36 Kathrin’s atelier: A creative and inspiring place 

05:00 Each women has a shining side  

06:38 Raised in a lively, feminist and free-mind family  


Becoming a Fashion Editor 


09:21 Expressing her creativity through fashion, 

11:03 Starting her career as a Fashion Editor and Stylist for the NZZ am Sonntag 

12:34 How studies can help you structure your mind and understand the society

16:36 Explaining society through fashion: what it means to be a good fashion journalist 

20:23 Finding inspiration through observation 


The freedom and difficulty of entrepreneurship 


22:49 The freedom of becoming an entrepreneur 

25:24 Experiencing insecurity… and why work should always be paid 

29:16 Surround yourself with the right people 

30:48 Facing the dilemma of money… and creativity


How moving to Ghana changed her life 


31:58 “It was kind of loosing identity” : Moving to Ghana for love and inspiration, vs the hard reality 

34:26 Learning the rules and codes of a foreign country 

37:16 Choosing your home place as an international couple

39:44 Getting inspired by the Ghanian culture and women 

41:51 Step by step… How Kathrin’s label started  

43:56 Establishing a business in a foreign country: from price and quality criteria to communication rules  

47:22 “Translating cultures” to create the best fashion  


48:50 The necessity of slowing down the fashion calendar

51:29 Keeping the contact with the clients: the biggest reward 

53:54 Finding creativity in the resting times 

55:38 Facing uncertainty and adapting to the curent crisis 

57:53 The importance of the feminine network 

59:42 Final questions 





Links and references 


To follow Kathrin Eckhardt Studio

 

To follow Kathrin 


References she mentioned in the episode : 





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