A Crown, Worthy Among des Femmes et des Filles
From the offices of Amsterdam comes every Parisian minimalist’s dream.
Big Scrunchie Fleuri, $27.24
Founder and designer, Floor Bos
For Amsterdam native and fashion designer, Floor Bos, the Amsterdam streets are alive with Parisian vitality. Showing simplicity in even their Instagram bio — “Iconic, feminine, and playful fashion accessories with a French feel” — this atelier is taking minimal up a notch. It is that classic French feel that Bos brings to her accessories that set Atelier des Femmes apart from all the rest. The designer emphasizes long-lasting, iconic statement pieces, all while demanding respect for the power of femininity, and that is what makes her items a closet staple.
Graduating from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, Bos’s line was conceived from her love of all things Parisian and her desire to bring a little class and je ne sais quoi flair to Amsterdam’s streets. The designer describes her line as “timeless, iconic, and feminine,” always doing her best to bring elements of French fashion into every accessory she creates. When gathering inspiration for her feminine designs, Bos tries to draw on “style icons of the past” like Audrey Hepburn, Jane Birkin, Lauren Hutton, and Brigitte Bardot. “Remember that picture of Brigitte with the dark blue headband?” Bos asks, “It’s an accessory that makes your whole outfit very French.” And so she ended up creating her first hair bandeau — and Atelier des Femmes was born. Growing up in a big family, designing women’s accessories is nothing new to the designer. Reminiscing to the days in her past where she would “make something for everyone” in her family, from her youngest niece to her oldest grandmother, she knew she was on to something when everyone began to wear her creations, and a friend told her that she “loved” the accessory in her hair. It was then Bos realized that her designs would be a must-have for that summer.
Fast forward to today, it is no surprise that the global spread of the COVID-19 virus has impacted the fashion industry and community. Bos says that she and her team alternate as much as possible at their office and that they are all in good health. Finding the light in the shadows of an uncertain situation, Bos is positively utilizing all this new-found free time and is “feeling more creative now than before;” happy with all of the new creations flowing into her mind. It left us hoping to hear that the pandemic is sparking a rebirth of art and creativity. Indeed, Bos has put some extra fabric to work to create what she calls “Flower Kits,” special ribbon flowers you can tie around your hats and garments year-round to give them that extra “Maison Atelier” flare. Of course, with everything going on in the world today, it is of utmost importance that Bos keep in sync with the eco-friendly movement in the fashion industry. The designer works hard to ensure that her materials are produced in the Netherlands and that she works more and more with “natural fabrics.” Also paying close attention to her packaging and keeping its impact on the environment in the back of her mind.
So why stick to such simplicity in your designs? Bos responds that it is because she loves “timeless items.” “I like the idea that when you buy an item, you should still be able to wear it five years later.” Sure enough, one of her staple accessories is her collection of scrunchies, a popular hairpiece that has made a classic comeback in the last year. Adoring scrunchies, Bos made note that these iconic accessories make for an amazing compliment to any outfit. Recently, the designer opted to create bigger, more powerful linen scrunchies to really bring out the “Parisienne” look in any outfit. Linen and corduroy are her favorite fabrics, as they add a certain sportiness to a woman’s ensemble. Her simple style and beauty habits are reflected in her designs, noting that Bos prefers to highlight natural feminine beauty. All of these classic pieces — bandeau ‘Penny’, bandeau ‘Froja', scrunchie ‘Violette’ — designed for women can also be found for girls on Atelier’s sister page, Atelier des Filles. A year ago, when Bos released her first collection, she was often approached with requests for the same pieces, but for her clients’ daughters. Within a few weeks, the new line was completely sold out, ensuring the designer keep making the children’s accessories. And why not? They are cute, comfortable, and easy to wear, plus we all know little girls love to play with their hair.
In addition to working on her brand full time, Bos also likes to take time to give back to other young entrepreneurs. Sharing her knowledge, the designer even offers an internship at Atelier des Femmes for women looking to learn more about design and fashion; saying that she allows her interns to “experience what she does all day, and completely immerses them in the business.” This type of educational gift is worth its weight in gold to young designers and entrepreneurs. It is no surprise that it is the kindness in the world that inspires and keeps Bos going every day. Further explaining that even in this strange new world where “time stands still,” people are still leaving kind notes for each other offering help and reminding their neighbors to stay healthy. “[I am] inspired by the goodness in people,” shares Bos, and that a newfound appreciation for the simple things in life has brought about positivity in Amsterdam. Indeed, this positivity keeps her moving forward as she dreams of a future where Atelier des Femmes continues to grow and flourish, partners with large labels, and maybe even has its own brick and mortar boutique in the cozy streets of Paris. Her closing statement to our readers as she heads off in her linen scrunchie to design another whimsical piece? “Do what you love.”
Gingham Headband-Bandeau Coco, $21.78
