Dutch glovemaker Jeanne Hermans on how her niche craft has built a 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.

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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 ($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 20 kilometers 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.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Q: How did you first get into designing gloves?

A: I studied at the Master Tailor Institute in Amsterdam, a school specialized 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.

Q: Your gloves have been worn by big stars. What does it feel like to see them wear something you made?

A: 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.