My name is Jessy Pelzer, I am 24 years old, and I come from the Netherlands. For the past 4 years I have been living in Herning, where I studied Design and Business at VIA University College. In December 2021, I graduated my BA Fashion Design degree.
My job
Today, I work as a fashion design assistant at the company Brands4Kids in Ikast, Denmark. Brands4kids is a kids wear company that owns 11 different children’s wear brands and has private label customers as well.
My main responsibilities are helping the designers develop all the collections. This includes making mood boards, colour cards, technical sketches, prints etc.
How did you get your job?
I got the job through one of my previous teachers from VIA. She recommended me and gave me the contact details off my boss at Brands4Kids. Showing how important creating a network is.
What do you like about your job?
What I like most about my job is the variation that I have in my work. Since we have multiple brands, I can work with many different design DNAs and target groups. And because I am helping all the designers, my work is never the same. One day I’m making prints for one brand and the next day I’m helping another brand with creating mood boards and technical sketches.
This makes me job so much fun because a day is never the same, and I learn a lot about different design aspects.
Why did you choose to study and work in Denmark?
I decided to move to Denmark and study fashion designs here 4 years ago, because I really like the education at VIA and what they could offer me. For example, all the different labs that you can use as a student, like the print lab and knit lab. To me this was the perfect playground to discover, try out and learn new things.
I also believe the Design and Business programme is the perfect combination between creativity, but also gaining business knowledge about the fashion industry. Something that I think is very important in order to understand the whole process.
What do your like about working and living in Denmark?
The best things are the work culture and Danish hygge!
The work culture is overall more relaxed, informal and has a flat hierarchy. There is no difference between the boss and the employees. People are more open and feel free to say what they think or how things could be done differently.
Furthermore, working in Denmark means a lot of teamwork, we are all in this together. So, helping each other when needed but also brainstorming as a full team is important and getting everyone’s input.
And lastly the Danish hygge! When you move to Denmark, you will hear this word a lot.
Hygge is a word you can’t really translate into any other language. It describes a feeling of coziness and being comfortable. People even refer to it as a lifestyle. Hygge is something you can share with friends, for example a cozy dinner with your friends, candles lit, lots of wine, good food and laughter. This is definitely something they would describe as Hygge. But hygge could also be a rainy Sunday sitting on the couch by yourself with a cup of tea, a good book and a “kanelsnegl” (Danish cinnamon bun).
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the Danes are one of the world happiest people.
All I can say is, come and try it for yourself!
Jessy (middle) with her two models BA final exam.
My advice
Do it! Studying abroad is an amazing experience, meeting new people and different cultures. Being in an international class, you will meet a lot of different cultures, but also you will connect quickly with your classmates because you all have one thing in common, which is leaving your home country and starting somewhere new.
I strongly believe it makes you grow as a person, learning new things not only during your studies but also about yourself. Denmark is a great country to move to and study. Everybody speaks very well English and are open to help you.
I quickly felt at home here and now proudly call Denmark my home Jessy Pelzer
My inspirations
I would like to make a difference is by thinking more about sustainability within my work field. The fashion industry is a big industry which has a massive impact on our planet. So, what inspires me and drives me as a designer is how I can make a change. I believe that students and graduates are the ones who should make a positive change within the fashion industry. Also, staying open and curious for trying new things is very important for me.