"Women know what they want"

How Michaela Sassenbach and Doris Huber and their brands are responding to the changing self-image in womenswear.

What does fashion mean for women today?

Michaela Sassenbach, founder of Sassenbach: I have the feeling that women today have a very precise sense of what suits them - and what does not. It's less about presenting something and more about showing themselves. And that is a huge difference. Fashion is becoming more personal, more conscious and, at best, more natural.

What concrete changes does this bring to the design, to the collection?

Michaela Sassenbach: Not much at Sassenbach, actually. We have always designed our clothes with the women who are supposed to wear them in mind. Our customers buy Sassenbach because they appreciate our quality and feel (stylishly) confident in our products. Our company values are very much about responsibility. We manufacture exclusively in Germany, pay fairly and work closely with our suppliers. It's about connection and trust. Because the women who manufacture for us also spend their lives with our products and you can feel this dedication.

So no staging?

Michaela Sassenbach: I think you can tell when something comes from a genuine feeling. We don't work with exaggeration. Our customers don't need a mask. They are looking for clothes that accompany them - through their everyday lives. And that's exactly what we want to offer. Quiet, clear, precise.

Doris, what does that mean for Cozy van Dorle?

Doris Huber, founder of Cozy van Dorle: Radical reduction! I want to offer the perfect cardigan. With a small pronto collection that can be ordered at any time and works all year round. Casual, oversized, timeless - in the highest quality. We have developed our own yarns and produce in Italy with partners who share our understanding of quality. Our customers sense this. They are not looking for effects, but for something that lasts. Something that doesn't restrict them, but envelops them.

Has the relationship with the customer also changed?

Michaela Sassenbach: Yes, definitely. In the past, it was often a one-sided dialog. Today, it's an exchange at eye level. Our customers are part of the whole. They know what they want and they also bring a new sensitivity with them. For processes, materials and values. This creates a different closeness and also a new responsibility.

Doris Huber: Definitely. When women design for women, something different is created. Not simply better on principle, but perhaps more conscious, more empathetic, more direct. And I think that's exactly what many women are longing for.

What does fashion mean for women today?

Michaela Sassenbach, founder of Sassenbach: I have the feeling that women today have a very precise sense of what suits them - and what does not. It's less about presenting something and more about showing themselves. And that is a huge difference. Fashion is becoming more personal, more conscious and, at best, more natural.

What concrete changes does this bring to the design, to the collection?

Michaela Sassenbach: Not much at Sassenbach, actually. We have always designed our clothes with the women who are supposed to wear them in mind. Our customers buy Sassenbach because they appreciate our quality and feel (stylishly) confident in our products. Our company values are all about responsibility. We manufacture exclusively in Germany, pay fairly and work closely with our suppliers. It's about connection and trust. Because the women who manufacture for us also spend their lives with our products and you can feel this dedication.

So no staging?

Michaela Sassenbach: I think you can tell when something comes from a genuine feeling. We don't work with exaggeration. Our customers don't need a mask. They are looking for clothes that accompany them - through their everyday lives. And that's exactly what we want to offer. Quiet, clear, precise.

Doris, what does that mean for Cozy van Dorle?

Doris Huber, founder of Cozy van Dorle: Radical reduction! I want to offer the perfect cardigan. With a small pronto collection that can be ordered at any time and works all year round. Casual, oversized, timeless - in the highest quality. We have developed our own yarns and produce in Italy with partners who share our understanding of quality. Our customers sense this. They are not looking for effects, but for something that lasts. Something that doesn't restrict them, but envelops them.

Has the relationship with the customer also changed?

Michaela Sassenbach: Yes, definitely. In the past, it was often a one-sided dialog. Today, it's an exchange at eye level. Our customers are part of the whole. They know what they want and they also bring a new sensitivity with them. For processes, materials and values. This creates a different closeness and also a new responsibility.

Doris Huber: Definitely. When women design for women, something different is created. Not simply better on principle, but perhaps more conscious, more empathetic, more direct. And I think that's exactly what many women are longing for.

sassenbach-style.de, @sassenbach_style
cozy-van-dorle.com, @cozy_van_dorle