Our friends and partners
Our biotope
The environment with which a mill is related is called the mill biotope. Even though Mill Made isn't actually physically part of a mill landscape, we do like to think of ourselves as part of the mill ecosystem, with our own biotope of friends and partners.
Rotterdams Handwerk
Our debut range features upcycled and remnant windmill sailcloth that has been handmade into beautiful and original products by the team at Rotterdams Handwerk (RH). Your purchase of Mill Made products also supports this important initiative.
Knowing who made our products
Mohammed is a Syrian tailor now living in the Netherlands. He made many of the products in Mill Made’s debut range, and is part of the ‘home team’ of workers with Rotterdams Handwerk. Thank you, Mohammed
Rotterdams Handwerk designs, produces and sells products for companies and private individuals. With a focus on sustainable and local production, as well as on attractive and functional design.
RH is a social enterprise, and works with people who experience obstacles in finding regular work. The participants on this project all work from their own home in and around Rotterdam, Zuid Holland (South Holland).
The organisation supports its participants to achieve positive personal outcomes that are inextricably linked to productive work, such as structure, meaning and pride.
Raw material
This is what arrived at the Rotterdams Handwerk studio at the start of the Mill Made journey - the retired windmill sailcloth from Cabauw.
Thankfully they shared our vision that there was something marvellous that was wrapped up in this package - aprons!
Henny Wilting is the indefatigable director and designer of Rotterdams Handwerk, and has made a real contribution to the development of our debut range. Thank you Henny.
Making, and doing something with one’s hands is a vital part of being human. Those who make, contribute to society and to urban dynamics. Happiness in the city.
Henk Epskamp, sailmaker extraordinaire
The products made from windmill sail remnants were sourced from Henk Epskamp’s atelier. Henk had clearly been saving up these leftover little rolls of fabric, knowing that one day someone would surely make something useful and lovely from them. We hope that this is what you had in mind, Henk. BTW many years ago Henk also made the original Cabauw sail, which Mill Made has upcycled for our apron range.
30 years ago Henk Epskamp decided to dedicate his life to making sails for windmills. His nephew, Thomas van der Gronde, who was then 18 years old, made a documentary to find out why the mill business fascinated his uncle so much. Thomas, who is now a very accomplished filmmaker, has very kindly agreed to us sharing Bevlogen door de wind (Inspired by the wind) with you.
Mill Made products made from Henk’s windmill sailcloth remnants
Other passionate mill people
Want to know more about our friends, partners, and other passionate people? Here are some links to a few of our favourites
Stichting Molendocumentatie (Mill Documentation Foundation)
The Stichting Molendocumentatie (Mill Documentation Foundation) manages a large collection of mill documentation, which is the responsibility of De Hollandsche Molen Society. Almost all the books about mills, thousands of images, clippings, drawings and special collections are accessible via its online database. Annette is a regular volunteer at the Foundation, focusing primarily on improving the collection storage. The added bonus of this work is that she hears quite a few stories about mills and milling from the rest of the team.
Vereniging De Hollandsche Molens (Dutch Mill Society)
The Vereniging De Hollandsche Molens is devoted to the preservation and restoration of the mills in the Netherlands, and has been operating since 1923.
Banner image: Mills on the Oude Maas River, Dordrecht August 1866, J.A. van Houwelingen photographer, postcard, Stichting Molendocumentatie, 01518