SISTER SISTER
SISTERS, BEST FRIENDS, ANIMAL MOMS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS. IT’S NOT ABOUT TAKING OVER THE WORLD FOR ELLEN AND MARIE MARTENS: THEY INTEND TO INVITE YOU INTO THEIRS.
ELLEN GRADUATED FROM HER STUDIES IN MARKETING, SPECIALISING IN FASHION. SHE MAY BE THE YOUNGER SISTER, BUT SHE’S THE ONE HANDLING THE BUSINESS SIDE OF IT ALL.
“WHAT I FIND SO INTERESTING ABOUT FASHION IS THAT IT ENABLES YOU TO CREATE A UNIVERSE. I THINK IT’S A GOOD SIGN WHEN YOU MENTION A BRAND’S NAME AND PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY START PICTURING A SITUATION, A PLACE AND CONTEXT, CERTAIN EMOTIONS, RATHER THAN OR EVEN INSTEAD OF CLOTHES.”
THE PERFECT MATCH
MARIE GRADUATED FROM THE ANTWERP FASHION DEPARTMENT. SHE’S THE BRAND’S DESIGNER AND THE BRAIN BEHIND ITS SIGNATURE PRINTS.
“I’VE BEEN PAINTING AND SKETCHING FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. IT’S SUCH AN EASY WAY TO ESCAPE INTO A WORLD OF YOUR OWN. I OFTEN PICTURE ONE OF MY FRIENDS AND A LITTLE SCENARIO, WHICH ALL OF A SUDDEN TURNS INTO AN ELABORATE STORY WITH SCENERY AND CHARACTERS I DIDN’T EXPECT.”
OUR BABY SISTER, OUR MUSE
SOUNDS LIKE THESE TWO ARE THE PERFECT EMBODIMENT OF YIN AND YANG. SPEAKING ABOUT PERFECT, THERE’S ALSO A THIRD SISTER: 19-YEAR-OLD ROOS, THE ONE THEY NAMED THE BRAND AFTER.
“WE KNOW WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS, BEING OLDER AND ALL, BUT SHE IS JUST SO FREAKING COOL. SO MUCH MORE THAN WE ARE, HAHA… WE HAVE THIS STRANGE FASCINATION: WHATEVER SHE WEARS IS COOL, EVERYTHING SHE DOES IS EFFORTLESS. AND OF COURSE: SHE’S THE LITTLE ONE IN OUR FAMILY AND EVERYBODY JUST LOVES HER LIKE CRAZY.”
“THIS SIBLING THING, OUR FRIENDSHIPS, THE DOGS AND CATS WE ADOPT, A LOT OF COLORS AND EMOTIONS: THAT’S WHAT OUR BRAND IS ALL ABOUT.”
