Fun & Famous

Jetteke, founder and owner of the fashion label Anecdote, celebrated a Thank God It’s Thursday instead of a Friday. Yesterday she presented four films from her label to the fashion press, starring the first soloist of the National Ballet, Igoné de Jongh. To make it complete, the fashion people were allowed to peek at the ballet rehearsal (highly unusual) and lunch was served at the Stopera.

When that was over, you had your TGIF moment.

“Sure. Only there was nothing in the glass, at least, nothing with alcohol. I am seventeen weeks pregnant so that wine has to wait a bit, but we did enjoy sitting together with the team and eating the leftover pastries.”

And now it’s the weekend. What are you going to do or are you just working through?

“We recently moved to London, my husband is from there and it seemed like an adventure to live there. Normally, I am in the Netherlands during the week and fly to London on Fridays. Nothing is more delightful than discovering that new city. This weekend I’m staying here because one of my best friends is opening a really nice children’s store (Archive) on Elandsgracht.”

But when you’re in London, where do you hang out?

“Recently we ate at Dinings, a small Japanese restaurant. Not even very fancy or expensive, but such good food, really amazing. It was whispered to us by Tyler Brûlé, the man behind Wallpaper Magazine and Monocle. The downside is that it has now also been featured in Monocle, so it’s a bit less unknown and you now have to book three days in advance.”

Okay, I want to go to London now. Where else should I eat?

“At Hoppers, it sounds like a burger joint, but it’s a fantastic Sri Lankan restaurant. Really, there are so many cool places in London. We often work in flexible spaces like Soho House where we just got a membership. And we recently went to an amazing concert by Underworld at The Round Circle, which is a place where trains used to be turned around. So cool.”

Seems like enough inspiration for a woman with a label with expansion ambitions.

“At first, I found it difficult not to always be physically in the office in Amsterdam, but I have a great team so everything runs smoothly, we Skype every day and from a distance, you also see the bigger picture better. We are now available in many countries and as a new project, we are also in Japan, very exciting. My husband Alexander focuses on the business side of Anecdote and learns four hours of Japanese every week, which is greatly appreciated.”

“Imagine time, money, and space are no object. Where would you be this weekend?

“I really love new countries that I didn’t know yet. That’s why Japan made such an impression. Now North Korea is high on my wish list, I should do that soon before the baby arrives.”

Just a little more about those beautiful videos you made with Igoné de Jongh. Was that a complicated process?

“It actually went very smoothly. Igoné enjoyed it and her husband directed the videos, so it was a team that merged and brought each other to even greater heights. I am really very happy and proud that I got to do this with these passionate people.”