Fashion Is Identity: Regine Kamerling Brings Culture and Creativity to Wittenborg

17.04.2026

Regine Kamerling Inspires Students in Amsterdam

Fashion designer and entrepreneur Regine Kamerling brought a mix of personal storytelling and creative vision to Wittenborg’s Amsterdam study location where she spoke as guest speaker at a Global People Lunch event.

As founder of Kitchen for Fashion, Kamerling introduced her work not just as a fashion label but as a lifestyle brand built around self-expression, identity and diversity.

“Fashion is about identity,” she told students. “Where you come from, where you want to go and who you are today.”

Her brand is designed for the modern self-aware woman who uses clothing as a form of expression. Rather than defining one fixed style, Kitchen for Fashion focuses on versatility and individuality.

“The modern woman is not just one thing,” Kamerling said. “That’s why our clothing is made to order, made to measure and ready to wear because women move through different roles every day.”

According to Kamerling, her designs are meant to help women feel confident and visible in any setting from work to social events to everyday life.

“Our clothing lets you shine and helps you find the best version of yourself,” she said. “And that version is different for every woman.”

All pieces are produced in an atelier in Amsterdam, created by skilled artisans, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and diversity.

Kamerling’s own multicultural background informs her approach to design. Instead of blending identities into one, she describes her creative process as balancing them depending on context.

“Today I might be 40% Gambian, 10% Dutch,” she said. “It’s not about mixing everything – it’s about placing identities next to each other.”

She also shared her path into fashion, explaining how her love for people developed during her time working as a personal assistant for expatriates.

“I just love connecting with people,” she said. “Making things happen for them, being there for their social and private lives.”

That focus on people now carries into her work as a designer, where she creates tailored pieces based on individual bodies, stories and needs.

Beyond fashion, Kamerling spoke openly about entrepreneurship, resilience and financial uncertainty. She described how challenges pushed her to create new opportunities instead of waiting for them.

“I’m not waiting for opportunities,” she said. “I create them.”

She also emphasised the importance of direct communication and networking in business. “If I need something, I’ll just come to you and say it directly,” she explained. “You can get ten times no, but eventually there will be a yes.”

One of her key projects is a new non-profit initiative focused on collecting, repairing and preserving cultural garments from around the world. The long-term goal is to build a global archive of cultural wear and its meaning.

“It’s more than a project,” Kamerling said. “It’s my legacy.”

For students in attendance, the session offered a blend of inspiration and practical insight showing how fashion, entrepreneurship and identity can intersect in unexpected ways.