Tokyo, June 2025
Nikè van de Waal, 46, is a creative director and co-founder of fashion consultancy Wolf Hiddink. Living between Amsterdam and Tokyo, her work is guided by a love of quality and form, an instinct for authentic style, and the contrasts between the two cities, tradition and innovation, calm and intensity, that continually shape her perspective.
As a creative director and brand consultant, where do you draw your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes mainly from fashion, art, my love for handcraft and craftsmanship, and people who dress very authentically. Style has nothing to do with money or mass. I think I filter all these different influences and create a mix from them that feels right for me.
If you could collaborate with any creative from the past or present, who would it be and why?
That would be with my grandfather Henri van de Waal. Unfortunately, I have never met him because he died too young. As a professor of art history, he had an unconventional view on art and was renowned for the value he placed on 'looking'. "What do you see... No, once more, what do you really see?” I’d like to think that we would have gotten along really well and that I could have learned a lot from him. Because I always want to learn from others. That makes for a good collaboration.
What do you take into consideration when picking out an outfit for the day?
I actually only consider how I feel that day. For me clothing is an extension of my feelings. Sometimes outspoken, sometimes more subdued. I don't follow trends. I also don't consider the weather, and not even the season. And by that I mean; I am not particularly fond of summer clothing, for example. I don't own a single pair of shorts or short skirt, and I love black. In the Netherlands this is sometimes striking in summer, while in Tokyo no one would bat an eye if I walked around in the middle of summer wearing a high-neck long black dress with a faux fur hat on.
How does wearing Róhe make you feel, and how do you think it aligns with your personal style?
First and foremost, I love quality and form; so beautiful fabrics, good cuts and strong silhouettes. I combine Róhe with pieces that have a different vibe. Usually with a certain streetstyle element, vintage clothes, clothes that I have altered myself and jewelry pieces which I have collected over the years.
Is there a specific place or city that inspires you creatively?
Absolutely. That's Tokyo. From the very first moment it felt like coming home. On every level. I recognize many of my own dualities in the city. Honoring and preserving traditions, but also embracing the pull toward innovation. Tranquility, yet also a whirlwind. These are the contrasts that I actually always seek out in everything.
How do you balance life between Amsterdam and Tokyo?
While my base is currently Amsterdam, I hope to be able to divide my time roughly equally between Amsterdam and Tokyo in a few years. That said, I already spend quite a lot of time in Tokyo.
Is there anything you do to make these two very different places both feel like home?
Cycling. Both in Amsterdam and in Tokyo, the bicycle is my favorite means of transportation. It turned out to be the best way to explore the different neighborhoods and discover my way around Tokyo. I love getting lost here.
What is your favorite place in Tokyo and why?
When I'm in Tokyo, I have new favorite places almost daily. The best ones are almost always hidden. Whether it's tiny restaurants, nightclubs, or a beautiful secluded forest path in one of the big parks. If you look carefully and go off the beaten path, you'll naturally stumble upon them.
