Following the success of the Sheltersuit Foundation, designer and founder Bas Timmer is now focusing on a new project: the launch of a new clothing line. With this collection, Timmer gives a new definition to the term streetwear. Sneakerjagers spoke with Timmer and his business advisor, Joost van Pelt.
Meet Bas Timmer
A few weeks before the collection's launch, we meet Timmer and Van Pelt in Rotterdam, at the back of WOEI’s store, where the launch will also take place. Seated behind three racks filled with jackets, pants, and T-shirts, the two introduce themselves. "I'm Bas Timmer, from Enschede and founder of the Sheltersuit Foundation," says Bas, shaking hands.
Opposite Timmer sits Van Pelt, founder of WRKSHOP Agency and former head of Nike Sportswear distribution in Europe. "After working at Nike for over 20 years, I’m now focusing on smaller brands and helping start-ups. Through various connections, I met Bas and am assisting him with the strategy for his new project," says Van Pelt.
The project is a continuation of the Sheltersuit Foundation, an initiative Timmer launched ten years ago. "I studied fashion in the past and quickly leaned toward designing (multi)functional winter clothing," Timmer explains. "When the father of two friends passed away from hypothermia on the streets, I started the Sheltersuit Foundation."
The Sheltersuit Foundation
Under the name Sheltersuit Foundation, Timmer started designing and distributing sleeping bags to the homeless, because in his view, 'everyone deserves shelter.' The sleeping bags are made from recycled materials and are weatherproof. Additionally, the design is multifunctional, with the top part being detachable and wearable as a jacket.
Over the past ten years, the Sheltersuit Foundation has distributed around 35,000 sleeping bags worldwide. In 2021, Timmer was invited by fashion house Chloé to design a jacket, which appeared on the Paris runway that same year. A year later, he conducted a workshop at Nike in Portland, focusing on clothing and sleeping bag designs for local shelters.
With his Sheltersuit, Timmer traveled the world, further developing his concept, and was named a 'Next Generation Leader' by Time in 2020. "I’m proud of what we’ve achieved," he says. "The knowledge gained, I now want to use for our next project."
Next chapter
While the Sheltersuit Foundation primarily focused on people without housing, the new label is designed with the youth who are often found on the streets in mind. "The designs have a streetwear look and are truly made for the streets," Timmer explains. By this, he refers to the durable, water-resistant materials used in the design of the items. "A bit of a double meaning of streetwear."
Van Pelt hands over one of the hoodies from the collection. The hoodie is a washed black color and heavy in weight, 1.4 kilograms to be exact. "What you immediately feel with these items is that they are of very high quality. Not thin, easily breakable fabrics, but sturdy materials that will last multiple seasons, if not years."
The duo then showcases several items from the collection. From T-shirts to hoodies, pants, and jackets, each piece is more unique than the last. "Do you happen to have any water with you?" Timmer asks. After handing over a water bottle, he pours some water over the hoodie he's holding. "Look, it just slides right off."
Each garment is also numbered. "I want to keep the collections limited," Timmer explains. "For example, here you see that this hoodie is number 8 of 21, that's how limited it is."
Premium quality
When asked about the origin of the materials, Timmer cannot provide specific details. "We use materials from Parisian luxury brands, but I can’t tell you which brands these are," he shares. Timmer works with deadstock fabrics, materials that brands no longer incorporate into their upcoming collections. He personally selects these fabrics in Portugal, breathing new life into them. "I give these fabrics a second chance," Timmer explains.
The premium quality of these materials is evident. For example, the hoodie is made from 800 g/m² cotton, a weight rarely seen in production. "This was a bit of a gamble for us," says Timmer, "but it paid off."
On the Instagram account @one.of.xx, the designer shares the first glimpses of the collection and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.
Launch at WOEI
The past few weeks have been hectic for Timmer. One day he was in Berlin distributing Sheltersuits at shelters, the next he was selecting fabrics in Portugal. Now, the collection is finally ready. "If I am nervous about the launch? No, definitely not, I'm actually excited," Timmer laughs.
And rightly so. The collection is solid, and the launch of the label is being approached on a grand scale. On November 22, the collection will be showcased at the WOEI store. "For both of us, WOEI is familiar ground," says Van Pelt. "Additionally, this store has a connection to what's happening on the streets and in fashion. There was no other store where we wanted to hold this launch."
For the launch, they enlisted the help of artist Daan Koens, also a Rotterdam native. His works à la Picasso, are recognisable out of thousands and have previously been seen on stages such as Lowlands, where he worked live during a performance by Joost Klein.
“Besides his works being incredibly good, he also has a great affinity with WOEI, Rotterdam, and the work of Sheltersuit,” Van Pelt explained. “I got in touch with him through my son, and I introduced him to Bas. There was an immediate click.”
For the first collection, Koens has designed a print for the tees. The artwork reflects the different layers of wealth in society, something that ties back to the DNA of Sheltersuit Foundation. During the launch of the clothing line, Koens will be present to paint the print live at the WOEI store. "With the launch, we want to bring the street inside," says Timmer.
Future
Timmer looks forward with enthusiasm to the launch of his next project. "I hope we’ve made gifts for everyone," says Timmer. Although they are still busy with preparations, they are already working on the next collection. Timmer remains involved with the Sheltersuit Foundation and will never step away from it.
"Fortunately, I now have a large team to whom I can delegate tasks, allowing me to focus on new challenges, like shaping clothing collections, which is where my passion lies now," says Timmer.
Van Pelt shares the optimism: "What Timmer has achieved with the foundation makes me curious about how far he can take the label. The designs are strong, and the spirit is too." With this label, Timmer has created his own league, where the street and streetwear come together - a combination that, according to both of them, can be very fruitful.
"We're still just at the beginning, you know? In ten years, we want to be active all over Europe, and maybe even bigger than that," says Timmer.
