Those who know my fashion also know a piece of me. My designs contain much that moves me personally: my love of color, my longing for freedom, and my connection to my family. That is why today I want to tell you something that at first glance has little to do with collections—and on closer inspection, a great deal.
I am Simone Bruns, fashion designer and founder of the Hamburg label SIMONE BRUNS. My roots are in East Frisia. Today, I find my creative home especially in Spain. And my family connects these two worlds.
Growing up in East Frisia—with three siblings
I grew up with two sisters and a brother. We are still very close today. Everyone has their own life, and yet we take part in what concerns the others.
For me, that is something very valuable. My family has known me since long before my first collection. With them, I can share ideas that are not yet finished and express thoughts when I myself do not yet know exactly where they will lead.
Often it is my siblings, my nieces, or my nephews who see new looks first. Their reactions give me ideas. Sometimes they encourage me in an idea, sometimes they give me a different direction. These conversations inspire me, precisely because they are such a natural part of our togetherness.
My family is also behind SIMONE BRUNS
When I talk about my work, I should actually say "we" quite often.
My brother has accompanied and assisted me at my shoots time and again. My sisters have pitched in, and my nieces and nephews suddenly become models for my campaigns. So those who belong to the family can quite easily find themselves one day in front of or behind the camera.
This brings a special familiarity to the work. You know each other, can be open with one another, and experience together how an idea becomes an image.
My brother has also firmly supported me for years in the financial matters of my company. This side also belongs to creative work: Someone has to think along, keep an overview, and share responsibility.
In this very personal sense, SIMONE BRUNS is a family business for me. My family is an important part of what I have been able to build. And I am grateful that they accompany me on so many levels.
Our home in Spain: a meeting place for 20 years
For around 20 years, our family has had a home in the mountains near Alicante. We see each other there regularly. Over the years, Spain has therefore become a permanent part of our shared lives.
Our love for this country has grown deep. For me, Spain has long since become a home—and now I even feel it more strongly than my homeland.
This connection was certainly also an important reason for my move to Mallorca. East Frisia remains my origin, Hamburg belongs to my work and my label. In Spain, I feel a freedom that means a great deal to me personally and creatively.
Why I am particularly creative in Spain
In Spain, I have time and space for my ideas. I feel freer, and that also changes the way I design. I let thoughts run longer, experiment, and listen more closely to my own intuition.
Many of my looks arise from this openness. Being together with my family is part of it: showing new designs, taking in reactions, talking together, and further developing an idea.
I cannot simply create creativity at the push of a button. But I now know quite well what does it good. Spain is part of it. My family too.
So the next time you see one of my campaigns or a new look from SIMONE BRUNS, there may be more family history in it than you suspect.
All my love
Yours, Simone
