Cover Charlotte and Bernadette de Geyter (Photo by Floor Reitsma /Courtesy of Bernadette)
Charlotte and Bernadette de Geyter (Photo by Floor Reitsma /Courtesy of Bernadette)
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In honour of Mother’s Day, Antwerp’s stylish mother-daughter duo discuss what is it like working with your best friend and family.
Bernadette, an Antwerp-based fashion and homeware label beloved for its romantic gowns and flirty, floral knits combines Bernadette de Geyter’s expertise in fashion retail as a former buyer for Ralph Lauren and her daughter Charlotte’s artistic talent.
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When did you first decide to work together?
Charlotte: My mother and I have always been very close, and we’ve always been best friends. I moved to London before launching our brand—it was the first time we were physically apart, and it made us acutely aware of the unique connection we shared. She raised me as a single mum, and we had always relied on each other for support and guidance. Being apart highlighted how much we value our relationship and the idea of creating something meaningful together began. It was a pivotal moment of clarity that propelled us to take the leap and turn our bond into a professional partnership.
What’s something that you admire about each other?
Charlotte: One thing I deeply admire about my mother is her unwavering commitment to staying true to herself. Despite life’s twists and turns, she never compromises her values or loses sight of who she is. Her authenticity is not only inspiring, but also serves as a guiding light for those around her.
Bernadette: My daughter’s ability to maintain a positive outlook on life is truly remarkable. Even in the face of challenges, she approaches each situation with optimism and determination. What’s even more admirable is her proactive nature—when confronted with a problem, she wastes no time in taking decisive action to find solutions and move forward.
Above Bernadette spring-summer 2024 collection (Photo courtesy of Bernadette)
Above Bernadette spring-summer 2024 collection (Photo courtesy of Bernadette)
Bernadette spring-summer 2024 collection (Photo courtesy of Bernadette)
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What’s a collection you’re both particularly proud of, and how did you work together on it?
Charlotte: We love our homeware line—and use it every day! It’s a fusion of my mother’s talent for interior design and decoration with my passion for drawing and printmaking.
My mother takes inspiration from her experience and expertise in interior decoration to conceptualise and bring our homeware pieces to life. On the other hand, I contribute my skills in drawing and printmaking to add unique and personal touches to our designs. Whether it’s creating intricate patterns, illustrating motifs inspired by nature or experimenting with color palettes, my creative input helps to infuse our homeware line with character and charm. Together, we ensure that our homeware line not only reflects our creative vision but also resonates with our target audience and meets their needs. Our collaboration is marked by open communication, mutual respect and a love for creating beauty.
How are disagreements resolved?
Charlotte: We try to give each other space and time when needed, and try our best to understand each other’s vision and point of view. It always needs to end with a good laugh in order to relax and remind ourselves to let go and enjoy the moment.
Bernadette homeware items (Photo courtesy of Bernadette)
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What was something you found challenging about working with your mum?
Charlotte: Juggling the different roles of being mum and daughter [versus] business partners. You have to really adapt and learn how to work together. And when you’re not working, or having a family dinner for example, to also let go and just be a mom and daughter—and not talk about work!
Besides fashion, what are other interests you both share?
Charlotte: We love travelling, seeing different cities, exploring different cultures and of course, food! That’s also one of the perks of working together: we are able to travel together and explore new places while also getting inspired together at the same time.
Above Bernadette autumn-winter 2024 collection (Photo courtesy of Bernadette)
Bernadette autumn-winter 2024 collection (Photo courtesy of Bernadette)
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What advice would you give to someone who is looking to start a business with family?
Charlotte: Be patient and open to each other’s vision, even if it’s not the same; and be willing to learn from each other.
What are some goals you both have for the brand coming up?
Charlotte: We want to expand the experiences we now offer, from small things like personal and thoughtful packaging and labelling to showing bigger presentations of our collections.
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Rosana (Rosie) is the former Fashion Director for Tatler Asia. Formerly located in Hong Kong, Rosie now lives in London, UK.
