As a new host, can you briefly present yourself?

Hello, I'm Abelone Wilhelmsen, a Danish fashion designer based in Antwerp and I'm thrilled to share my space with the vibrant community of Cocom. 

The reason behind opening up our creative space is the recent move of our locally produced slow-fashion lifestyle brand and flagship store to the bustling fashion neighbourhood in the city centre of Antwerp, making this the perfect opportunity to open up our previous space to the local creative scene.

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Why did you decide to list your space on our platform?

I chose to list my space on Cocom because I believe in the power of sharing. While we have an atelier for my fashion collection in the back, I wanted to open up the front part of this unique space in Borgerhout to the people for exhibitions, creative workshops, wine tastings, product launches and more. The big window and the proximity to a square full of cafes make it an ideal spot for fostering creativity and bringing people together.

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What are your expectations as a new host and what do you hope to gain from this experience? 

Our expectations as new hosts are high and we hope to gain a wealth of creativity back into our space through the diverse interactions facilitated by Cocom. We love that it's an open platform, welcoming companies, startups, and workshop enthusiasts alike. Sharing is caring, and we look forward to the community's positive impact on our space.

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If you could design your dream shared space, what would it include? 

If I were to design my dream shared space on Cocom, it would be a loft with a terrace—an inviting haven bathed in natural light. This dream space would resonate with the qualities of our current location, encouraging creative interactions and contributing to the community's love and high standards.

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Can you share an interesting story about your interactions with guests or hosts or people from the neighbourhood?

One interesting story that highlights the quality of direct interaction in our space involves a couple of dentists from New York/Israel. Intrigued by our collection and art exhibition, they not only fell in love with our pieces but also envisioned incorporating our art into their new dentist practice in Brussels. Their enthusiasm even sparked a conversation about bringing our brand to New York, and well, I'm all for it—help me make my start-up's dream of reaching New York a reality!

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Welcome to our new hotspot in Borgerhout—where creativity knows no bounds! 

Picture: © Jan Van der Perre