Our Artists
Two visionary artists, united by their heritage at Dries Van Noten
and a shared belief in art as a conduit for inner transformation.
Both shaped by their time at the legendary Antwerp fashion house,
now bringing their unique vision to TRACE.
Katrien Soeffers
2002-2015 Dries Van Noten Antwerp · Production & Collection Development | 2015-2016 Diane von Furstenberg New York · Print Designer | 2016-present Royal Academy of Fine Arts Ghent KASK · Textile Department Lecturer
Flowers have always been part of Katrien's life. Growing up next to a flower shop, she was deeply attracted to the colors and forms of flowers. After years working in fashion production and interior design management, she founded her own studio in 2010, making drawing, color and travel the core of her career.
"Drawing brings me peace and joy. I love creating with my hands — charcoal, pencil, oil pastels, watercolor... Even when the work is digitized, I always maintain the warmth and texture of handcraft."
Hand-drawn elements transformed into prints for fashion and home textiles, wallpaper, stationery, etc.
Capturing the flow and poetry of nature with charcoal, pencil, and oil pastels
Feminine style, organic combination of graphic elements and artistic sensibility
Providing color planning and print R&D consulting for design teams
The Hand Behind the Line
"Drawing brings me peace and joy."
From large-scale charcoal murals at the academy to the intimate florals of today, the gesture of the hand has always been at the heart of Katrien's practice.
Annette Goeke
Nearly 20 years in accessories industry · Creative Director and Design Consultant for major European brands · Founded AGAD Design Studio in 2014
Accessories design is the perfect merge of fashion and product design — creating one-of-a-kind pieces that resonate with many.
Annette's curiosity drives her to explore diverse materials and craftsmanship, making each product distinct and reflective of her passion.
"Designing a collection is still an artistic process, even though we use a lot of technology as support today. But the creation itself happens in an old-fashioned way — paper and pencil, fabric and leather, little swatches and mock-ups."
From trend research and design concept to volume, material and color development, and full collection lineup planning with tech packs
Sample follow-up, material development and technical support — focusing on quality and perfect construction through to production
Bringing accessories know-how into home accessories, small objects and furniture, as developed with her own brand FÚ
Paper, Pencil & Leather
"The creation itself happens in an old-fashioned way."
Paper and pencil, fabric and leather, little swatches and mock-ups — each collection still begins by hand, long before any technology lends its support.
On Craft & Creation
I get excited when I can feel a beautiful leather skin in my hands — imagination starts on what this can become.
Everyday life is always an inspiration for me. People around me, nature, everyday products, architecture and so much more.
To create a feeling for a product I need to dive into the brand's DNA — finding the key elements that make the brand stand out, and transforming them into details and design codes.
Craftsmanship makes and breaks a product. That is why I focus on quality and perfect construction in the sampling process.
An It-bag cannot be planned or ordered — it happens when everything fits perfectly together: design, brand DNA, customer expectations and taste, and the right timing.
Creating a handbag collection goes beyond mere sketches. It requires thoughtful consideration of styles, shapes and colors.
We believe that art is not decoration,
but a bridge to the inner self.
Through creative collaboration and shared vision,
we bring European artistry to meaningful experiences.
