I am a fashion, textile and jewellery designer, artist, and researcher. Born in the Netherlands and raised across Singapore, Austria and Japan and graduating with an International Baccalaureate, I have spent most of my adult life moving between Europe and Asia, and most of my career finding ways to turn overlooked materials into things people want to own.
I trained at Central Saint Martins in London, where I graduated with a degree in fashion and printed textiles. My passion has always been upcycling, I started out by making limited edition pieces using thrifted clothes and globally sourced fabrics, selling them at London markets, and eventually launching my own printed womenswear label, Cassandra Postema London, which received New Generation sponsorship from the British Fashion Council.
I then spent several years in Hong Kong working in the production side, developing fashion and prints for brands across the full spectrum, from Cerruti and Dolce & Gabbana to Primark and Warehouse. That period gave me a first-hand understanding of how the global fashion industry actually works, which has informed everything since.
My question became: how could recycled materials be integrated, and add value to contemporary fashion products?
The first iteration where I addressed this was Dialog Worldbutik, a social impact project that used scrap fabric folded and stitched into a uniform trim used on handbags, turning discarded material into something charming, not merely diverted from landfill. The combination of recycling story and contemporary design led to interesting accessories which landed in the Anthropologie network of stores across the USA, Canada and London.
In 2013 I launched Emi & Eve, a jewellery brand that works with artisans in Cambodia and Bali to transform exploded remnants of war into jewellery. The brand has operated across Cambodia, Singapore, Rome and Bali, contributed funds to landmine detection programs, and led to invitations to speak at various universities and at Loupe, the art foundation of Chow Tai Fook.
Running commercial fashion businesses based on upcycling has meant solving a myriad of problems: sourcing provenance, scaling production, managing marginalised artisan groups, navigating international distribution before manufacturing was stable, and rebuilding the business model from scratch more than once.
I am committed to challenging linear fashion production models, working with brands, manufacturers, and other sustainable initiatives to demonstrate that recycling and upcycling waste can underpin commercially viable, well-designed products.
