Interview Portrait of Dutch fashion professional, speaker, cultural strategist and lecturer Ellen Haeser Credits: photographer Marcel van der Vlugt After six and a half years in vocational education, Ellen Haeser is returning to the stage. During Masterly Milano 2026, the speaker and cultural strategist will present From Cradle to Grave – an ode to lifelong, inexhaustible sources of inspiration. This is an audiovisual work focusing on fashion and interiors. With over 45 years of experience in the fashion industry, Haeser reflects on the zeitgeist. She advocates for a shift from a trend-driven mindset to a value-driven one. FashionUnited speaks with her about education, retail and the future of fashion. Where does your renewed urge to interpret the zeitgeist come from? My urge to interpret is not new. It grew stronger as fast fashion became increasingly dominant and visibly 'hollowed out' the fashion system. That was a turning point for me. I wanted to use my experience across the entire chain in a more meaningful way, which is why I entered vocational education. Ellen Haeser currently works as a lecturer in vocational education at ROC Zadkine in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She is specifically involved with fashion and design educational programmes such as the Beauty & Design Lab. There, she teaches fashion and sustainability and supervises students in practical projects. Haeser also works as an education and innovation advisor for Fashion & Interior at Koning Willem 1 College in Den Bosch. In education, I discovered the value of acting as a link…
Want more insights? Join Grow With Caliber - our career elevating newsletter and get our take on the future of work delivered weekly.
