Mel en Stel is not meant to be glamorous or luxurious. It's meant to be tough like the old war materials Ilse Eriksson (the Mel en Stel designer) once used in a few art fashion pieces. It's supposed to be a little earthy, a little rugged, a little barefoot like the Belgian brains behind this grounded one-woman clothing operation. It's meant to be a product of dissecting and loving shape and fabric (and dealing with the logistics of realizing such affection.). more...