Influencer With A Voice: Elze Lambrecht

1. Name:

ELZE LAMBRECHT

2. Where are you located?

Bali

3. When and how did you start your journey as a fashion designer and a creativity coach?

At the age of eighteen, I started a bachelor degree in graphic design followed by a bachelor and masters degree in fashion design. I was always very creative with my hands as a child so it was very natural for me to study these fields.

4. Please explain what exactly creative coaching is?

Many people own a creative skill that they would love to do on a daily basis and make a living from it, but they have no idea where to get started. For me that was never a question, it was something I always knew since I was young that being creative with my hands would be my job. I found my way through it by learning and being open to making my skills advanced so they could serve others. When I coach individuals, I work with them on their ideas and how to transform their skills into a business.

Creative coaching for a business is to focus on owners who want to bring their products to the next level by re-designing, re-branding and re-focusing on their target market. Together with them I can help achieve their set goals for their startup or existing business.

5. Would you like to share any success story during coaching experience?

My niche market for coaching are startups who are new in the field and want to learn how to run a fashion business and what to pay attention for. The reason I chose startups is because I can help them develop the brand and teach them what to look for. I have seen several brands do well and it is great to be part of that! I love seeing people achieving their goals and be go-getters for whatever it is they want. Authenticity is the key to succes for me as there are no two version of the person you are, so with your uniqueness you can attract like minded people. I have seen that happening to clients I worked with and it is a pleasure to see.

6. Your biggest inspiration?

My parents and my sister are my biggest inspiration. They are such determined people who never give up on what they are after. My parents are in their early sixties and are still creating new projects as we speak. I learn a lot from them but I also had to learn to detach myself from the things they did was different from my desires and dreams. The world is an evolving place and some things do not need to be repeated as it does not serve the world anymore. My older sister is my mental guide as she is a psychologist and I can turn to her as I feel she always one step ahead of me, mentally. With her I can talk about my emotional well being.

Next to that I have met with many people who stayed in my life at certain periods where perhaps, I had to learn my lesson. For me so many people are an inspiration and a guide to myself.

Photography by Nicki Silvanus from Under a Palmtree Photograpy

7. Any turning point that you experienced in your career?

Yes, when I started out I was keen to help everyone. I did small jobs, big jobs, cheap jobs, everything! But at some point I had enough. You can not help everyone and it is smarter to choose your clients wisely. The people who are ready to work with you, have the funds to pay you what you feel you deserve and then you can put your full attention and energy into that person. And the outcome is so much better then when you try to divide your energy to everything at once.

8. Does fashion design helps you in coaching? How?

Actually, Fashion Design brought me into coaching as I noticed how many startups were struggling to understand how to set up this business and how to survive with their brand. The fashion industry is huge and tough. In order to stand out you have to put your mind 100% in there. Through the clients that I worked with I started to see re-occurring issues and understood I could help so more people by just including the coaching service. I also saw people having tons of ideas but no solid plan on how to make something from it. For me it seemed so logical to do certain steps and create something more from an idea. I noticed this was something I possessed very natural and that people where very grateful that I shared this with them. This brought satisfaction and a motivation to do more.

9. What was your idea behind starting up with creativity coaching for design and business?

Drawing and creating is in my blood and comes very natural to me, it has been my truth since I was a kid. Because of that I never doubted it and never doubted my decisions regarding anything related to that. But later on in life, I got sidetracked by following others ideas in other parts of my life because I was uncertain and scared, which is ok, but then you tend to adopt other peoples ideas more. Sticking to your truth should be your safe haven, always. Because when you are 100% honest with yourself and go deep into your true self, you know that you have the answer. There is a truth living in each one of us, that only we know if we dare to listen to it. But because of external factors we might lose track of that truth and get lost in the world outside of ourselves. I felt lost for many years as a teenager and my early twenties because I was taking on the ideas from the world outside of myself. That was no ones decision but mine. For me it took a physical and mental journey to understand that I am the only one holding the truth for myself. Following that truth has brought me to unexpected places in the world and especially in myself. Today I feel I own myself way more and it feels really good. Of course I have a confrontation on a regular basis, but they do not seem that scary anymore, because I know I can solve anything, if I want to.

I want to teach this to others, that their capacity and strength is theirs to take. It was my voice to show others they also have all the tools within to create the life they want. Creating a business is a big part of creating that life. Business in core is way more then earning money. It is a journey as a business owner and a person. It is an opportunity to give other people work and opportunities to grow. It is an opportunity for self expression and influencing others. It generates money that can re-create. Money is the tool to create and if you have a positive vision on what it is capable of, because of what you do, you are on the right track. And we all know, when you do something with love, the money follows. So if I can help others with that realization, I feel a very big satisfaction.

10. What is the story behind your website’s name “yourcreativevalue.com”?

There is a huge problem where creative people are not paid accordingly as it is seen as a gift and not a job. So clients are not always willing to pay for the work that a creative person offers. But we have to keep in mind that their is huge value in what a creative person offers. As a client you look for someone to help you with this, because you can not do it yourself. That is the whole reason why you hire someone.

Everything is made out of creativity, no matter if that is visual, oral or intellectual. So everyone deserves to be paid for what he/she brings. I want to work on that vision for the people I work with as they can bring the difference to that. I want to remind that everyone has value to offer.

11. What factors do you keep in mind when you coach your clients?

Every person's reality is different. It is important to realize that and it is something I had to learn for myself. Every goal that a person has is important to them and their motivation is theirs and that needs to be respected.

12. Please tell us something about your journey as a graphic designer to a fashion designer and a coach.

Graphic design was something I studied before fashion.. Designing is something you can translate to any medium. Learning techniques is something you can learn no matter what. Having the right eye is your unique gift as a person and that will make you stand out, that and other factors. For me fashion was something that started to fascinate me as a teenager and it has grown into my job currently. For me, growing and learning is never ending, so exploring other ways to be creative are endless. Coaching was another way to be creative with my mind, instead of my hands. Coaching others also teaches me a lot about myself and the things in my belief system.

That is also confronting sometimes, because I learn from my clients every day. I see how people think and realize it can be so different then how I perceive the world. It is interesting because you learn from others through conversation. The type of conversation you might be afraid to have with your friends because it becomes so personal, or because they know you. A complete stranger can learn you so much about yourself, believe it or not! They come in from a different background or vision and show that to you, which is refreshing. For me serving others is what still drives me the most. I care about people and their ideas. I get a thrill from seeing people grow. I guess as long as you focus on serving others from your soul, you are on the right track, no matter what you do, because it is authentic. And that is what I want to show others, if they resonate with it.

13. Do you think that coaching is important for the business?

I think self reflection is important for a business or an individual. A lot of things a coach will tell you, you already know but you do not do anything with it. You might think: “Actually, I know all this?” True, but you are not taking action to work with it. A coach or guide can just help you get into that `zone` where you become active with what you know because they show you that it is possible. Letting go of old patterns and ideas is really difficult by yourself because the ego plays a big role in that. There where a lot of convictions I had to learn to let go, because I thought:`this is what I learned, so I have to do it this way. And that stance helped me in some part of my life and had its purpose, but sometimes it does not anymore. And that is the time where you have to step out of it, and doing that alone is not always easy.

Photo taken during fashion week in Bali from various photographers.

14. Any advice you would like to give to the budding brands and fashion designers?

Yes! Listen to advice, but always decide with your gut. Because your road is yours, and not someone else`s. If you feel it is right, then it is right and you will succeed.

Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/elzelambrecht/

Website:https://yourcreativevalue.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elze.lambrecht/

Interview by Alison Hernon, Fashion Director, Jejune Magazine