Ep. 415 - Hedwig van der Laan, CEO of StudioHedwig

My name is Hedwig van der Laan -  I live in Zeist, The Netherlands with my husband and our 2 cats. We have 3 grown up children who have just started working or are still studying.I started StudioHedwig in 2016, after crocheting and knitting a series of pillows and throws for ourselves. I enjoyed doing that so much that I also wanted to make interior accessories for others. I crochet and knit my home deco on request and since 2019 I also make knitting and crochet patterns. I was educated as a teacher in chemistry and biology. During my work as an R&D project manager, I studied business and law. Later I managed to get a degree in fashion design (coutier).The yarns I work with are sustainable, natural and mostly recycled. The usage of new cotton requires tons of water, pesticides and colorants, whereas recycled cotton does not. If I work with wool, animal welfare is very important for me. The designs I make are timeless and the products last a long time. There is no stock of products in my studio. I create on demand to avoid spillage of products and also to be able to make my products as customized as possible. With my choice for yarns with a sustainable origin I hope to make a small contribution to a better world and to inspire other people.Knitting, crocheting and making clothes has been my great passion from an early age. Until January 1st 2023 I combined working at a consultancy agent with StudioHedwig, but now I am lucky to focus on my craft business only. In addition, I am a member of the Board of Advisors of EDsnaps, an educational non-profit, based in New York. Links: My website: https://www.studiohedwig.nl/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiohedwig/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudioHedwig/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hedwig-van-der-laan-b500b820/?ppe=1   ***********Finalist "Women in Cloud - Podcast of the YEAR" - #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards 2026Susanne Mueller  / www.susannemueller.biz  TEDX Talk, May 2022: Running and Life: 5KM Formula for YOUR  Successhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT_5Er1cLvY Join Substack: https://substack.com/@susannemuellernyc?Enjoy one coaching session for free if you are a yearly subscriber. 800+ weekly blogs / 500+ podcasts / 1 Ironman Triathlon /  5 half ironman races / 26 marathon races / 4 books / 1 Mt. Kilimanjaro / 1 TEDx Talk