ANKE LOEDTS & CHRISTIAN VANKELST
Do you know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time and, without many words, you sense an openness that needs no introduction? No walls to break through, no layers to peel back. Just a quiet sense that the person in front of you is willing to let you in. Exactly what happened on the first stop of our trip down South: meeting up with friends of the brand, we found ourselves at a sunny terrace table in Josse, welcomed by two of the kindest and open humans: Anke Loedts and Christian Vankelst.
Somewhere between the ocean and the mountains, they’ve carved out a life of their own. Never fully planned, but always falling into place. Built on feeling, held together by love, with plenty of room for the unexpected. Two creative souls, one drawn to the raw energy of music, the other to the endless possibilities of fibre and form, together flowing through life on what feels like an already twenty-year-long vacation.
We sat down with Anke and Christian to talk about the paths they never planned to take, what keeps them moving, and the beauty of figuring it out as they go.
@ankeloedts • www.ankeloedts.com
@billmisterbill• @moseesband
Who are you in this moment in life? Who is Christian? And how do you see yourself Anke?
Christian: I’m Christian. For the past 20 years, I’ve worn many hats in the European skateboarding scene: friend, team manager, dad, consultant, filmer, and above all, someone who’s passionate about the culture. After two decades in skateboarding, I’ve decided to take a new direction and put more energy into my other passion: music. I play bass and sing in a post-hardcore band called Mosees, while learning something new every day about live sound engineering, music production, and all things frequency-related. At this stage of my life, I’m also trying to find a better balance between work and life, so I can keep doing what I love while spending more time with my family.
Anke: I’m someone with a thousand and one ideas. I’m curious by nature and always looking for new things to explore and learn. I think we both are similar in that aspect of not wanting to restrict ourselves into one box. What’s interesting is that working with wool is actually the longest I’ve ever worked with one medium, because it offers endless possibilities and there’s always something new to discover.
Where did you guys first meet?
Anke: We both grew up in Belgium and I spent quite some time in the Brussels area. Where I saw Christian playing bass in a hardcore band and remember thinking, “What a charismatic guy!” Later, I started working at a skate shop in Brussels, and guess who was working there… That’s when the sparks started flying! Hahaha.
Did you always have the intention to move abroad to move abroad? And do you miss living in Belgium?
Christian: No, it was not a conscious plan to move to France, but I got a great work opportunity through skateboarding which I couldn’t refuse at the time.
Anke: No, for me neither. I wasn’t really planning to move abroad, as my friends and family were and still are in Belgium, but I followed “ love “. If you fancy someone, you make crazy decisions. It took some time to adjust to my new life, and I sometimes had doubts in winter, wondering if I was missing out on all the fun in BXL, especially during the periods when Christian was travelling. But now, looking back on it, I can say the last 20 years have felt like a vacation every day. We have the ocean, the mountains and so much beautiful nature all around us.
Anke, what is your creative process like and where do you find inspiration for your work?
Anke: Textures and forms I come across in daily life inspire me a lot. My personal work is often closely bound to nature and its forms. There are so many possibilities with wool fibres, and I love experimenting with different techniques and combining them to see how raw and processed fibres interact and take shape together. From natural dyeing, tufting, weaving to needle felting, there is always something to discover. A good example is my bird’s nest series, where I combine different techniques and raw and processed wool to create organic forms and textures I often start with a free-flowing pencil drawing on paper or a colour combination that catches my eye, then translate it into a digital drawing where I can easily change colour to visualise different options, especially when working on commissioned client work.
What fulfils you most in your work? Working on your own creations and exhibitions or commissioned work?
Anke: One doesn’t exclude the other. It’s the variety of work, commissioned or non-commissioned, and the possibility to experiment that drives me to create new work and keeps me exploring. I also like to collaborate or build on other people’s ideas with tastes different from mine. It can open my eyes to see the world differently. I also do monthly tufting courses to stay healthy and keep in touch with the world around me. As I spend a lot of time alone in my studio I sometimes feel isolated, so the variety to also work with people and share my passion keeps me happy and fulfilled. Balance is key.
You said you are always on the lookout for new things to do and learn; how did you start doing what you are doing now?
Anke: I used to work in a school, making art with children and encouraging them to explore, experiment and express themselves through creativity. We even did a yarn bombing project together. Crochet, weaving and knitting have always been part of my life, but it wasn’t until a friend introduced me to the tufting gun that gave me the possibility to start working on a larger scale. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Wool has been a common thread throughout my life, from spending time in my aunt’s wool shop to studying Fashion and Textile Design. Nature has always been close to my heart, and I feel a deep sense of gratitude towards sheep for providing us with such a beautiful and versatile material. This connection makes working with wool even more meaningful to me. I love exploring its possibilities and discovering how it can take on so many different forms.
You are both very sensitive people, and I feel Christian is very supportive of you in your craft. Has it always been like this?
Anke: I think we’re a great team, both as parents and in supporting each other’s creative endeavours. Christian has always supported me and given me the freedom to follow my own path and explore all my ideas. I love watching him perform and seeing how his passion for music shines through. He’s in his happy place, and seeing him like that makes me happy too. I also really value his help with building large frames for my bigger works, as well as the wooden backing structures for my wall pieces.
Christian: Anke has always supported me and encouraged me to follow my own path, and I’ve always stood by her, no matter what, even if she occasionally has to remind me that there’s more to life than late-night studio sessions (laughs). Over the past couple of years, as her own art practice has grown, supporting her and helping her pursue her artistic ambitions has felt like the most natural thing to do.
Both personally or professionally, what are you working towards? Where do you like to see yourself in a couple of years from now?
Christian: I’m happy with where I am in life right now. I feel like we’ve built a great life for ourselves, raising two healthy teenagers and spending as much time as we can outdoors, whether it’s in the mountains or by the ocean. It keeps my inner child alive, happy, and healthy. I still love skateboarding, making music, playing live, producing, and growing as a sound engineer. I want to keep learning, pushing myself, and getting better at what I do.
Anke: I would love to develop my work towards large-scale textile installations, working with wool and other textile materials to create immersive works for a wider audience. That’s really one of my main goals: exploring how textiles can transform a space and how people can experience my work on a larger scale. At the same time, I want to keep creating unique rugs for clients, as I really enjoy the balance between commissioned work and my own artistic projects. I would also love to collaborate with other artists on ambitious textile projects and see where those collaborations could lead.
When are you moving back to Belgium, so we can see you more often?
Christian: I don’t see myself moving back to Belgium any time soon, I would rather move back a little closer to the ocean.
Anke: I always love going back to Belgium to visit family and friends, but extending our 20-year vacation feels like a good option as well. I’m also incredibly grateful for the little nest we’ve built here, with the twins, our dogs, our cat and Flash the tortoise. I truly love this life and enjoy every minute of it.
Anke's work is now on view in both our Antwerp and Amsterdam stores. Most of the artworks are also for sale, so drop by to check them out and speak with our staff if you're interested in a piece. Or get in thouch with Anke through her website or @ankeloedts to see what is possible and stay up to date with what she is up to in the future. If music is more your thing, follow Christian's adventures on @billmisterbill or @mosees_band.
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