Ronald van der Kemp

Ronald van der Kemp (*1964, Wijchen, Netherlands) is a visionary Dutch designer renowned for reshaping high fashion by embedding ethics and sustainability into the heart of his work. With over 25 years of experience working for prestigious fashion houses such as Bill Blass, Guy Laroche, and Celine, van der Kemp launched RVDK (Ronald van der Kemp) in 2014, the world’s first sustainable couture house. His collections are rooted in the principles of upcycling, transforming surplus materials and discarded fabrics into passionate, one-of-a-kind couture pieces that challenge the industry's wasteful practices.

Art Meets Sustainability

Van der Kemp's designs are a seamless fusion of intuition and realness, where artistry and sustainability meet. Each piece he crafts is a collage of haute couture craftsmanship, textile art, and eco-conscious materials, offering a fresh perspective on the possibilities of ethical fashion. His work has graced the likes of Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, and Celine Dion and regularly appears at Paris Haute Couture Week. Here, his bold, ethical approach to fashion is widely lauded for its meticulous craftsmanship and environmental consciousness.

Influence on the Fashion Industry

Ronald van der Kemp is not just a designer but also a passionate advocate for transformative change in the fashion industry. He has consistently criticized overproduction and fast fashion, advocating instead for seasonless, timeless pieces that prioritize quality and ethical responsibility. His collections, hand-crafted in small Amsterdam ateliers using leftover luxury fabrics from top fashion houses, minimize waste while preserving the beauty and artistry of couture.

Long before upcycling became a trend, van der Kemp championed it as a core principle in high fashion. His couture creations are often described as “wearable art,” blending elements of sculpture, textile design, and fashion. RVDK has become a leading example of how fashion can ethically push artistic and environmental boundaries.

Early Career

Van der Kemp studied fashion design at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy of Art and Design in Amsterdam before building an impressive career with luxury brands like Céline, Escada, and Bill Blass. His extensive knowledge of the fashion world, coupled with a growing frustration over its wastefulness, led him to create a brand that merges aesthetic excellence with ethical responsibility, redefining the future of sustainable couture.

Education