Text en photo Eva de Koeijer
You can spot great-looking people and cool outfits on Wageningen campus. This column highlights some of them. This time, meet Tabita (19), a Forest & Nature Conservation BSc student from Niger.
‘I would say I don’t dress conventionally. I usually just go for something I like, inspired by my surroundings and my upbringing. I grew up in Niger and that’s why I like to wear fabrics that make me think of home.
‘I made the dress I’m wearing now myself — like about 30 per cent of the items in my wardrobe. As a child, I was used to us passing on clothes or making or mending them ourselves, so I find it hard to shop for clothes in the Netherlands. When I buy something, I try and think about where it comes from.
‘My style is an expression of my identity. I reveal part of my life story without having to explain it all in great detail. At the same time, it’s not that important; if I want to wear something simple on a particular day, I do so. But I always wear smaller, less visible parts of my story, such as my ring.
‘Style has always been important to me, but I constantly remind myself that it needs to stay fun. It mustn’t become an obligation to look different; that doesn’t strike me as healthy. The main thing is to wear something that looks good and is comfortable.’
