PEOPLE
DEBORA HUISMAN-LEESER, CHOICES BY DL
Designer Debora Huisman-Leeser has been running the successful jewelry line Choices by DL for 10 years. This is not the end point for the career woman. Debora still has a dream to fulfill on Fifth Avenue in New York. For her, the sky is the limit. But who helped the Gassan descendant on her way to success?
Designer Debora Huisman-Leeser has been running the successful jewelry line Choices by DL for 10 years. This is not the end point for the career woman. Debora still has a dream to fulfill on Fifth Avenue in New York City. It's for her the sky's the limit. But who helped the GASSAN descendant on her way to success? Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Choices by DL
“My very first part-time job was in my grandfather Rolf Leeser's clothing store. The fashion king of the Netherlands. Rolf built five chic fashion stores and I worked on Thursday evenings and Saturdays in the Leeser store in PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam. We sold all the great brands: from Dolce & Gabbana to Valentino. My plan was to take over my grandfather's fashion business, so I started my studies at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) and stopped studying law at the University of Amsterdam.”
What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?“What I should have done differently in the past was to finish my law studies. I believe that studying results in a different level of thinking than not studying at all. By studying you gain certain knowledge that you miss if you don't study. I also think the difference between an HBO and university study is extremely big: the language used is so different and so is the setting up of documentation. I experienced this difference myself because of my own choice.”
How did you end up in your current job?"GASSAN is a real family business. Ten years ago I started my own unique jewelry line Choices by DL. I came up with this line for my graduation project at AMFI. They became jewels that consisted of interchangeable parts: a base jewel, a frame and a colored stone, which were interchangeable separately.”
Who was your wheelbarrow in that?“Under the guidance of personal coach Jeannette Heessels and together with the goldsmiths of GASSAN Diamonds I devised the worldwide patented system and came up with Choices by DL. I devised and developed the line myself, but Jeannette assisted me in developing the best system. She was my mentor at the time.
My great source of inspiration is Queen Máxima and my idol is my father, Benno Leeser. He has always helped me and is my support and source of support. His positivism is infectious and the glass is always half full instead of half empty. He's walking now as we speak singing through the corridors. If you listen carefully, you can also hear it over the telephone. That's how it goes here every day: cheerfulness itself.”
Also read: 'The Wheelbarrow Of…' Benno Leeser
What has been your biggest learning moment in your career?“Have patience. I'm still not the best at it, but I am learning to be more patient in situations. When I come up with an idea for my brand, I actually want it to be ready tomorrow: of course that is not possible. My enthusiasm makes me want so much! I believe that the nature of the animal cannot be changed, but teaching yourself certain things is not impossible. I'm a lot more patient than I was in the past.”
What is your greatest passion in your profession?“Creating new products is my greatest passion. I hope to open another store on Fifth Avenue in New York. That's just a dream now, but who knows what will happen in the future. Choices by DL is a well-known brand in the Netherlands and people want to be part of it Community hear, but I also want to expand the brand to other countries. In addition to my passion for Choices by DL, I also have the ambition to travel the world with my family.”
