Elsje Wuyts Pursues Her Passion for Design
By Hannah Kelley
Photos courtesy of Elsje Wuyts
Life is a series of moments, with some inevitably being more consequential than others. For Elsje Wuyts, one such moment occurred 17 years ago. While searching online for a crochet pattern for an amigurumi panda, she happened to cross paths with a photo of a Blythe doll. Enthralled by her appearance, it wasn’t long before Wuyts acquired her first of many Blythes and a clothing design journey commenced.
Today, Wuyts works full time as a kindergarten teacher in Antwerp, Belgium, where she lives with her partner and two teenage children. And in her spare time, she successfully manages Bliss & Bien — a side project she describes as her passion. The name was partially inspired by the first Blythe Wuyts purchased. She said, “I will never forget the excitement and thrill I felt while unboxing her. I decided to name her Bliss because that’s what she felt like for me: pure bliss.” (This doll’s name was later changed to Nell, but another Bliss eventually joined the collection.) As for Bien, Wuyts said it was her username when she started sharing Blythe photos and designs on Flickr and it doesn’t have a particular meaning: “It’s pronounced exactly the same as you pronounce the English word bean. Many think Bien actually comes from the French word bien, which means good, and since Belgium is bilingual French and Dutch, that could have been the case, too.” It was the encouragement she received on Flickr that led her to open an Etsy store.
Blythe may have been the catalyst for Bliss & Bien’s inception, but Wuyts has always been enamored with dolls and fashion. Growing up, she said, “I had lots of Barbie dolls I played with for hours on end. Dressing up was the main thing. I used to host little Barbie fashion shows, with my mum as the audience and her ironing board as the catwalk. But I also had many other dolls: Amanda Jane, Fleur, Sindy, and later on Strawberry Shortcake.” At 16, Wuyts bought what she believed would be her last doll — a Crimp and Bead Sindy — but during her 20s, she found My Scene Barbies and Bratz dolls too irresistible and began collecting again.
wrap cardigan.
Wuyts said that during her high school years, she aspired to become a fashion designer. So, she learned to sew, design, and draft patterns. “I thought it would be a great preparation for the fashion academy that awaited me, but I was the eldest of five children and fashion school wasn’t exactly cheap, so I decided to become a teacher instead,” she said.
That early education has come in handy, though, and she has been able to watch her designs transform in rewarding ways. “In the beginning, my style was very retro,” she said. “I used a lot of vintage fabrics, with big flower prints. I did A-line dresses featuring big, pointy collars, blouses combined with flared pants and berets — most of them breathed a flower power vibe. Of course, my style evolved a lot over the years. It became more romantic and whimsical, with ruffled collars and petticoats. I’ve done circus sets, fairy-tale collections, princesses, Alice in Wonderland, and I’ve designed little rag dolls who wear dresses and socks that match the bigger outfit they came along with.
“At the moment, my work resembles a childlike fantasy world inspired by Holly Hobby and Sarah Kay illustrations from the ’70s. I’ve also recently started adding embroidery to pinafores and dungarees and always love the outcome of those creations. To me, embroidering feels like drawing and coloring on fabric, and it’s so relaxing and mindful.”
While she has some signature pieces, which are reproduced with different fabrics and receive occasional alterations, Wuyts enjoys the challenge of coming up with new looks. When considering the individual outfit components, she estimates she has produced more than a hundred unique designs. Dress and pinafore sets and lined jackets happen to be some of her favorites.
The creative magic takes place in Wuyts’ in-home studio, where she keeps her sewing supplies and dolls. Some fabrics are neatly stored in a paper organizer to provide inspiration, but she said there is an abundance of yarn and other materials packed into boxes and cupboards. She sources many of her fabrics from flea markets and thrift shops, and she makes good use of secondhand garments. “I think, in general, fabrics are what most inspire me — I can see a piece of fabric and immediately see what it could become on a doll’s body,” she said.
She also draws inspiration from the outdoors and said, “Many of my collections have names that reflect nature. My studio has a large window facing the garden and I live across from a lovely park, so although I live in the city, I truly feel connected with nature. And whenever I can, I try to take my dolls outside for a nature-themed photoshoot. I just feel there isn’t a better formula for an inspiring doll shot — green and dolls always work!”
Wuyts has become quite skilled at photographing her tiny clothing designs and doll models. She shared, “Taking pictures in the park can sometimes result in funny anecdotes — children shouting, ‘Look, she’s got a little gnome’ or grown-ups looking at you, thinking you’re probably missing an edge. My colleagues at school, my friends, and family have all gotten so used to my doll activities that I sometimes forget that not everyone I come across is familiar with a grown-up woman carrying a doll and posing her under a tree or in a flower bed. But I’ve reached a stage where I just don’t get bothered anymore. And if I could advise any beginner, I would only say don’t ever feel embarrassed! And I would like to quote George Bernhard Shaw on that matter: ‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.’”
Through social media, Wuyts is able to share photos and updates with those interested in her work, as well as stay connected with fellow doll enthusiasts and artists. Frequent platform updates can pose a challenge, though. She said, “As an artist, you want to be noticed, so in a way, you have to obey the algorithm. I did struggle when Instagram suddenly focused on reels more than on pictures. I had to learn to film and edit videos. And then Instagram decided to switch to rectangles in profile feeds, instead of squares. That meant goodbye to my neatly composed profile.” It takes extra effort and can be frustrating at times, but Wuyts does what she can to adhere to the updates, and she believes some of them are positive.
In a world of constant change, Wuyts is determined to continue designing. “I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of this passion of mine — I sure don’t intend to,” she said. “The dolls and creating little outfits for them give me so much pleasure and joy in life, I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without them. And I often feel so blessed to be able to do what I do, to have been gifted with a talent, to have a safe and rich life, where I can spend money on a luxury doll and her needs. I will never take that for granted! Sometimes, I sit in my studio, music on, dolls by my side, in front of my sewing machine, busy creating, and I get overwhelmed by all of that ‘bliss,’ feeling like the luckiest person on earth.”
Bliss & Bien
Instagram: @blissandbien
