If there’s two things that give a collection the Broke Approved stamp, it’s sustainability and eccentric design. So, when we discovered that Felt Atelier had teamed up with Ace & Tate to repurpose the remnants of their leftover acetate from their SS23 sunnies collection into abstract resin earrings and Felt’s signature Amoeba pendants, we knew we had to give them the hype they deserve.
Broke Magazine caught up with the Founders behind each brand to find out more about the collection and how this c*nty collab came to be…
You’re really transparent about the production process and commitment to minimising waste (slay). How is sustainability built into the brand?
FELT: Sustainability is integral to Felt’s brand. Even though our process is far from perfect we do prioritize eco-friendly practices by sourcing recycled materials and using low-impact production methods. That’s the fundament of our collection with Ace & Tate, repurposing slabs of Acetate. Our commitment to minimizing waste involves repurposing leftover materials and adopting a circular approach to design.
ACE & TATE: Leading by example and establishing a new standard in the eyewear industry. This journey has been marked by numerous highlights of which we are genuinely proud. Our CEO, Mark de Lange’s statement in the blog post titled “Look, we fucked up.” which followed our B-Corp certification in 2021. The introduction of Acetate Renew Bio in 2022, representing one of the most sustainable materials in the industry today, stands out among these milestones. Circular packaging: a hard case made from our demo lenses. All these accomplishments result from the consistent and concerted efforts made by our team. We continually update and strive to minimize our company’s impact on the environment.
We’re big into the homemade aspect of Felt. How much time typically goes into making a singular piece?
FELT: Each singular piece at Felt is a labor of love. Our own items usually take about 48 hours before its ready for a customer. The collab with Ace & Tate took, per item, us a bit longer. It was a new process because we had to understand the material first.
What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever spotted someone wearing your designs?
FELT: The weirdest places where someone wore a Felt earring were drunk dancing at Awakenings Festival or when I saw a Dutch news anchor wear the Felt pearl necklace while reporting about Ukraine.
ACE & TATE: The weirdest place? Berghein!
Can you give us one niche fact about the team behind your brand?
FELT: That’s a cool question. We have so many things. We often follow the way of most resistance. But in the end, we learned from that experience. Or we have this adage at our office, “Leave your ego at the door”. This helps us to make the best designs and nobody is offended when they put their heart into a design that isn’t so great. The same goes for me, sometimes they kill my ideas.
The Ace & Tate collab gives left over materials a second life by transforming them into wearable art. How did this idea come about?
FELT: This collab with Ace & Tate all started with a Whatsapp group message where we both happened to be in. That’s were we quickly bonded with Senior Product & Sustainability Designer, Torunn Gullaksen. They had a wish to do something cool with their left-over slabs. That’s all they had to say to us. And that was the start of their first jewellery collab.
ACE & TATE: I had just come back from a visit to our factory in Italy, where I saw firsthand how much of the beautiful handmade acetate material we fizz out and leave to be recycled. I wanted to find a way to savor some of the larger leftover pieces and upcycling them. I contacted my friends Maaike and Jason, the brains behind Felt Atelier. Together, we set off to repurpose excess acetate.
Can you describe the wearers of this latest collab? Who are they? Where do they live? Where do you envisage them wearing the collection?
FELT: I thought more people who are all about sustainability would wear it. But it’s more about the design, I guess. We’ve seen fashion-forward people wearing this, yes guys included, but also all our moms.
ACE & TATE: They’re adventurous, using self-expression as their playground. They’re not ones to take themselves too seriously, seeking moments of fun in a world that can sometimes be bleak. They are experimental, make conscious choices and they care about inclusivity. I don’t see them being tied to a specific city but they make appearances in Amsterdam, Berlin, and London for sure.
Felt has such a unique aesthetic. Where does this stem from creatively?
FELT: The unique aesthetic of Felt stems from our roots as a design-centric duo. Can we add something new to the accessories landscape? Can we make it us?! So we infused each piece with hand-drawn elements, transforming them into miniature art pieces that make bold, colorful statements.
We noticed both brands are based in Amsterdam. Do dutch aesthetics play into the collection?
FELT: First and foremost, it’s our home town. It is Amsterdam for life. Hahah. Besides it being a convenience thing… We find inspiration in Amsterdam’s creative energy and its progressive approach to design, fostering an environment that resonates with our brand ethos. And the city and it’s people remind us to keep going harder and evolve.
ACE & TATE: It was so easy and fun to work with Felt Atelier; our thinking matches and as two Amsterdam-based brands, we’re thrilled to show the inventive potential of Dutch design.