Rooted in colour, memory and craftsmanship, Lin Van Craenenbroeck’s work transforms fabric into story. Drawing on a lifelong instinct for texture and pattern, she creates garments that carry both heritage and individuality — pieces that feel joyful, expressive and deeply personal.
How would you describe your artworks or style to someone seeing it for the first time?
I create mosaic style original clothes. They are one-off creations made with new, vintage and recycled materials used in an unusual colour and pattern way, becoming `wearable art`
What inspires your work?
I am a colour addict. Being fascinated and obsessed with colours, textures, designs, material and fabrics. My creative brain never stops.
I am like a little kid in a candy shop when surrounded by the depth and the beauty of colour, let it be in nature, a painting or in an art gallery, even an interesting house or space in a street… It sparks my creative energy, my mind starts creating, and colourcombos are made.
Can you tell us about your creative process, where does an idea usually begin for you?
Having been a window dresser and mosaic artist in Belgium for 15 years, every creation starts as a blank canvas. Mixing unusual colours and textures comes very naturally to me, since I was really young.
I don`t really have to think about it, it evolves naturally. I know every single bit of material and fabric I have got, and believe me that is a lot!
Usually when I have new material, I get very excited because instinctively I know already in my head what I am going to create…
What’s one piece or project you’re most proud of, and what makes it special?
My most stand-out creations are the jackets and long coats made from the NZ vintage woollen blankets. Having done 20 years of markets around NZ, I have been become well known for my well tailored blanket creations where I mix all the colours and patterns of the vintage NZ blankets with vintage lace and trimmings that I source from Belgium. To finish the garment off I use pottery buttons handmade by a Raglan artist. By using these NZ icon blankets and the Belgian vintage braiding, I am bringing my two cultures, homes together in one piece of wearable art.
Have you faced any creative blocks or challenges? How do you push through them?
Being creative and self employed is not always easy. There are ups and downs, confidence and self doubt but overall when you create with your pure soul and heart, you always find a way to push through because that inner love of what you want to do always wins.
I have had some health issues a couple years ago and still ongoing. My markets used to be my main outlet for my weekly creations; there I could see the reactions of the customers of what I had made; it boosted my creative energy.
But having terrible back issues, I had to give the markets up and find another way to still be creative and make a living but in a slower more constant pace, so I started working and creating from our studio/gallery .
And because having done 20 years of markets I got quite a fan base who come and find me in Raglan now. Creative blocks make you dig deeper to feel what you, your inner you and your body needs. I do think they are necessary for a creative being to evolve.
How has living or working in a small town like Raglan shaped your journey as an artist?
I moved here from Belgium in 2006 with my family. As a newbie European, I still remember that first day arriving in Raglan. That freedom feeling that anything was possible. That creative energy that I felt instantly in Raglan, sparked for me that freedom to create… That freedom feeling back then changed my being forever. And a dream came true; I never have been happier in my life than being a creator on this side of the world. I love my life in NZ.
Who are some artists or people who have inspired you, locally or globally?
There are quite a few people who inspire me, Frida Kahlo, Gaudi… But my biggest inspiration must be my granddad. My granddad was a tailor. His workshop was near the river Schelde in Antwerp Belgium and he made suits and uniforms for the sailors. He was my hero; if you saw him you saw me. My mum sent me his old brand labels to use on my garments but they were 70 years old and they fell apart when I started sewing them on, so I got them remade here and to this day I still use the design of my granddad’s label.
What’s next for you – any upcoming projects or exhibitions?
The coming years I feel that I want to expand in making more different products out of the vintage NZ woollen blankets. Our gallery space and a few markets a year and WOMAD festival will keep me busy, but still bring me a lot of joy. So for now I will keep colouring myself happy with colourful, happy creations.
Where can people see your garments and how do they get in touch with you ?
You can find all my creations in my studio at MADE GALLERY, 20 Bow Street, Raglan. Hop on in if you want to talk to me about making a coat or jacket out of your passed-on blankets from the previous generation; I get a lot of orders for those.
Contact me on
FB or Insta: mozartraglan .
email: lin.at.moz.art@gmail.com
Phone: 02102430354
