‘Helsen’ is a name synonymous with fine tailoring for three generations since 1939. Since the age of 28 Stijn, the youngest son, had already distributed his own label international. Destiny may have played a part in this young designer’s career when his grandfather, Albert Helsen, opened his first shop in Borgloon. Belgian custom making suits and offering his clients a personal pattern of their body frame, a craft that later on would be passed on to his son, Roland Helsen. Stijn’s father moved the family business to Hasselt to open a shop that offers everything from fine Italian suits to American sportswear, while still offering the high quality label, Helsen.

In these surroundings it was only natural for Roland’s youngest son to be fascinated in the craft that his father and his grandfather had perfected to an art. At the age of 12 Stijn was already designing and sewing his own trousers. But Stijn wanted more than learning first hand, he wanted to be formally trained, so he enrolled himself in the ‘Léon Mignon’ tailoring school in the French speaking part of Belgium. His education there furthered his interest, to a higher level where he attended l’Insituto Marangoni in Milano. After learning and mastering the technique of tailoring, Stijn felt that he was ready to design his own collection and started selling it in his family shops. The reception of his design was so great, that shortly afterwards Stijn’s talent with draping and pattern making quickly became noticed and he was asked to work freelance for avant-garde Vivienne Westwood in London (read more).

This opportunity was perfect for him because it enabled him to experience another dimension of the fashion world the young and hip urban London scene. While he stayed in London, Joseph, a prominent international retailer showed interest in some of his work and asked him to design a line under the ‘Joseph’ label.