Bas Timmer: ‘If I see something wrong in the world, I want to fix it’

What keeps you up at night?
I sleep well, but if something bothers me, it’s the balance between doing good and taking care of myself. For the first two years of Sheltersuit, I worked entirely as a volunteer—five days a week, ten hours a day—and on weekends, I had a side job as a cook. That was purely out of motivation: all I wanted was to make as many suits as possible. I lived in temporary housing and had dinner at my mom’s place in the evenings. Everything for that dream: imagine if we actually manage to have Sheltersuit on every continent, in every country, and every homeless person has a warm place to sleep.

Why did you start Sheltersuit?
A father of close friends passed away on the street because there was no emergency shelter available. It hadn’t been cold enough for long enough. He knocked on the door and was told, “Sorry, we’re not open yet. Here’s a blanket.” Pure bureaucracy and nonsense. It was cold and windy, and he died of hypothermia.

A few years earlier, I had been in Denmark during the winter, and it was freezing. I was studying at a fashion academy and designing warm hoodies with built-in collars. In Copenhagen, people were sleeping on the streets without proper clothing. I thought: my designs could keep them warm! Why not start a brand where people can buy a warm sweater and donate one to a homeless person, like a buy-one-give-one system? But my mom said, “If customers see homeless people wearing your sweaters, they won’t want to buy them. People don’t want to look like a homeless person.” Later, when my friends’ father passed away, I thought: I should have done it. But then my mom said, “Come up with something better than just a scarf-sweater.” That’s how Sheltersuit was born.

How do you bring out the best in others?
By putting people in the spotlight. By complimenting them when they do something well, even if it’s something small. And I’ve noticed that it helps a lot to talk to people about their past—it builds trust. I’m very open about everything myself, and that makes others open up too. The first years of Sheltersuit were all about building a family: we worked from early morning until late at night to help homeless people.
Beyond that, I share my passion. I talk about my dreams, what I believe in, and what I stand against. I struggle with bureaucracy that puts the well-being of people and the planet at risk.

If you could swap jobs for a day, who would you trade with?
With the creative director of Balenciaga. That company is a powerhouse, with incredible revenue and brilliant creative minds—I would love to steer it toward a more social direction in an instant.

Do people ever see you as a rebel or troublemaker?
Yes. Especially in the early days of Sheltersuit, I faced a lot of resistance. Shelters and municipalities are responsible for homeless people in their cities. I’ve had so many calls from them saying, “Sheltersuit is a bad idea because it keeps people on the streets. We’re against distributing the suits.” And I’d say, “Okay, then get these people a house and a job!” Let’s be clear: Sheltersuit doesn’t keep anyone on the streets. The same policies that exist in the Netherlands exist in New York, and I received the same criticism there. So, I started asking homeless people directly: “Does this suit keep you on the streets?” They laughed at me and said, “Are you crazy? This is a jacket! You give me a f***ing house!” The system doesn’t work—some people can’t or won’t go inside. And I believe that’s not okay. If I see something wrong in the world, I want to fix it.

What’s your biggest entrepreneurial dilemma?
Balancing commerce and creativity. I designed a jacket at Chloé, and I was able to pour all my creativity into it: with piping, double pockets, silk lining, a built-in scarf, and reversible wear. But yeah, that jacket costs €2,500—way too expensive for most consumers. For my own clothing brand, I might want buttons with my own logo, but the business side says, “Let’s wait two more collections for that.” It’s a constant balancing act between different priorities.

Isn’t it difficult to make sustainable fashion?
No. That’s what I’ve done my entire life. When I walk into a factory and see dead stock or leftover materials, I get inspired. I immediately know what I can make out of them. But if you’re a regular fashion designer sitting behind a computer, you have hundreds of thousands of options—different fabrics, colors. That doesn’t work for me. I freeze up.

What price have you paid for your success?
I’ve sacrificed a lot of free time. I’ve been on vacations, but I was always thinking about Sheltersuit. My friends are busy building their own futures—buying houses, having kids—while I’ve only been focused on work. I do want kids. I think I’d be a great dad, and my girlfriend would be an amazing mom. I’d love to take my child along for distributions and to help the homeless. I really want to show my child my perspective on the world.

Aren’t you afraid of the world your child would grow up in?
No, I hope my child will want to fight for what’s right. Some of my friends say, “I don’t want to bring kids into such a messed-up world.” But people have been saying that for 50 years.

Who or what has shaped you the most as a leader?
My mother. My father too, to some extent, but I learned from my mother to always put people first. Whether it’s the workers in our workshops, the homeless people on the streets, or the people who support us—I try to always put them first. If I go too long without doing something nice for my team, my mom will pull me aside and remind me. I think that’s my strength. When I give a Sheltersuit to a homeless person, I don’t care if they have tomato soup on their shirt or if they smell bad. I just give them a hug. I don’t even think about it because I know that’s what they need. The same goes for the people working here—it’s all about warm, personal connections. That’s something I learned from my mother.

What achievement are you most proud of?
That Time Magazine named me a Next Generation Leader. When they called, I honestly thought, “Do they have the right person?” The year before, they gave the award to Greta Thunberg. But then they emailed me their reasoning. They said they chose people who use their voices and platforms to start movements, break barriers, and drive change. And I thought—yes, that’s exactly what I feel like I’m doing.

Interview: Vera Spaans | Photography: Pieter Bas Bouwman | Videography: Freelancers United