Name: Eelke Veltman
City + Country: Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Instagram ID: @masterofoptics
Can you introduce yourself? Who’re you and what are you doing in daily life?
Hi, my name is Eelke. I am a man of 41 years old and the father of two sons, Ingmar (20) and Karsten (16). For over twenty years I’m working in optics. Not just as a daily job, I am breathing it. I have my own shop, called bril&lens. In fact it’s more an optical boutique than a shop, based in Monnickendam, the Netherlands.
Having my own shop gives me a lot of space to do what I like most. Connecting with people. I use it to organise small musical events, and marketing that makes people smile. Having a good team also provides me space to travel the world as an adviser for optical brands and other opticians, hunting for unworn vintage frames and developing myself as a better person.
To become a better person I started to do therapie, breathing sessions and visiting male groups to learn to have self love. All these things I do to give my sons the best I can give them, hoping they become wonderful adults. I think that’s the best part my lovely ex-wife Tina and I accomplished, creating two magnificent boys, and I am f#ck’n proud of that.
If you take a look at your clothing style, can you describe what you like to wear yourself?
I prefer rough outdoors, denim, hats from @schaduwloper, and caps from Stetson. Before I fell in love at my Butts and Shoulders I was wearing Marten’s, Red Wing’s, Sendra’s and shoes like that.
What is the first impression of our Chelsea boots so far?
They walk like slippers, the soft walk of the sole, the leather that wraps around your feet like it’s your skin. Lovely! First I thought jugh, these are pale! But, the longer I walk them the nicer they get. Fun fact, people see you wear special boots, they give you daily compliments like nice sitting frames do 😉
Were you already known about (our) natural vegetable-tanned leather? What makes it so special in your opinion?
Nope, I wasn’t. Insta made me do it! But I am so happy that I do now. Pity thing is that I am in need of a belt of the same material as well. So, when I lose these nice fellows after five months, it’s gonna cost me money. 😅
If you could add (or design) another footwear style to our collection, which one is on top of the list? And why?
As a new shoe design in this material I would design loafers for the summer, with the Butts and Shoulders logo on top made of copper or limited in 18K gold. Of course, with a nice cut raster at the top layer leather so your feet can breath even better during warm days.
Where do you like to shop? Can you share some of your favorite store spots (offline/online)?
I like to shop in brics instead of online. Unique products from small specialized shops I prefer. For my denim I love my contact with Amsterdenim but I also like to visit @dc4_berlin in…. Berlin. Trelo in Alkmaar is a nice shop for buying hats although I also like the Schaduwloper hats I sell in my own boutique.
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Depending on how much hurry I have, I listen to classical music or Techno in my car. At home I listen to Judy Blanc and Tim Knol or the playlist of Mignonnus.
Why do you think you’re going to win this battle, and be the true Magnificent 5 gentleman?
Well, that’s easy. I already won. I found a new brand that I like, and I made four new insta friends with overlapping interests.So, if I win the bag, that’s just a bonus, and when I win the bag, it’s because I made the longest distance on my boots to get natural rough patina. 🤘🏻
If you could be someone else for just one day, who would you be and why?
I would love to be a beautiful, black, lesbian woman. Because that would be the most opposite of what I am, so I think I can learn and experience the most about other people in one day by being her.
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