Founded in Copenhagen in 1999, Baum und Pferdgarten is one of the leading Danish fashion houses. Their timeless and design-led collections are full of unexpected playful contrasts.

The brand name is an interplay between the surnames of the founding Creative Directors, Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave. Throughout their long-standing partnership, Rikke and Helle have continuously complemented and pushed each other, resulting in covetable pieces in beautiful fabrics, memorable prints, and bold colours.  “We want to create designs for people who want to have fun with their personal expression. Our collections can be worn in many different ways by many different people. We aim to create a safe space for self-expression, however, that manifests for each individual.” - Creative Directors, Helle Hestehave and Rikke Baumgarten.

As long term fans of this Danish duo, Baum und Pferdgarten was one of the first brands Maman stocked when we first opened.  Season after season they continue to excite us with their modern take on timeless fashion.  Read below to learn more on the process and inspiration behind this well loved brand....

 

Baum und Pferdgarten’s pieces have a very particular style that is difficult to typecast. How would you describe it?

We have a very eclectic style. We like the very minimal masculine universe and, at the same time, really enjoy prints, colours and feminine details. We often think the mix is interesting.

 

How do you approach each new season? How is the process of creating a Baum und Pferdgarten collection?

In our design team, we always discuss what we find interesting, what is going on, what we have been inspired by from the last half year. Then, we leave the office and go to exhibitions, watch movies, look at people, listen to music.  From there, we try to settle a theme. When the theme is settled, we begin to work on colours, fabrics, prints and shapes.

 

What are your main sources of inspiration? Do you look at other sectors/industries? What are your references in fashion and business?

We are both very interested in art, so that is a big deal for us. In general, we get inspired by travelling, listening to music and watching a great movie. Once a year, we go to the furniture fair Salone del Mobile in Milan to get inspiration from other design fields. That is a must-see for us every year.

 

Let’s talk about fabrics: which ones do you currently work with, would like to work with and would never work with?

We will never work with fur again for sure. At the moment, we find fabrics with structure and tactile surfaces very interesting. A structure can almost work as a print. Fabrics that have a long life and fabrics that have a sustainable approach are interesting and work for us.

 

What makes you both keep creating new pieces together after so many years? How is your personal and professional relationship now and how has it evolved for over two decades?

We have known each other for more than twenty years now, which means we have experienced so many different things together on a personal level but of course also in our business. Because of this, we have become even closer over the years: we have seen our kids grow up, we have been travelling around the world for over two decades and have experienced both ups and downs together. That makes you a very strong team. We have a lot of respect for each other’s creativity and work, which makes everything much easier.

 

How many people make up the Baum und Pferdgarten team and how are you organized?

In our main office here in the heart of Copenhagen, we are around forty people. But out in the big world, we have a great press and sales team working in cities like London, New York, Oslo, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, etc. When we present the collections in Copenhagen, our sales team comes to get to know the clothes better. Everybody in the team is always gathered for the presentations so everybody knows what is going on in the company. Many of us have been working together for many years and we share a lot of ideas with each other. The design team often talks with the sales team in order to make the best collections.

 

On your website, you present a very clear roadmap in terms of sustainability aligned with your commitment to the planet, human rights and animals welfare. Do you work with experts in the field to help you achieve your goals?

Yes, we have been working closely with a Danish company called Closed Loop to find our way in this very difficult field. We have ensured that what we aimed for 2024 is also something that is realistic. And if we don’t achieve our very ambitious goals, we will also tell you about it. There is a hundred per cent transparency from our side.

 

On an individual basis, who are you most grateful for on the path that has taken you to the time being?

If we didn’t meet at the Royal Danish Academy of Design twenty-five years ago, Baum und Pferdgarten would have never existed, so we are both very grateful to have met each other.