From Customer to CEO: The Woman Who Saved a Fashion House

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-10-22

Nicky Vankets spent over 25 years building his name as a Belgian designer. But behind the success were tough years, a bankruptcy in the family business, and even a moment when his bags were packed to leave. Then Daphné Vandenplas came along. She saw not just the designer, but what House of Vankets could become. Today she's CEO, and together they're combining creativity and entrepreneurship in a completely different way. In this episode, they talk openly about what that entails: cashflow and profitability, hiring and firing, going bankrupt, trusting the wrong people, starting over, and daring to admit you can't do everything yourself. But also about their big plans for House of Vankets and why Nicky is already thinking about a company that must one day continue without him. A conversation about entrepreneurship as it really is: building, making mistakes, losing people, getting back up, and sometimes realizing it's time to do things completely differently. ### The Harsh Reality of Running a Fashion House Let's be real: running a fashion house isn't all glamour. It's cashflow, profitability, and making tough calls. Daphné and Nicky don't shy away from the hard stuff. They've been through bankruptcy, trusted the wrong people, and had to let employees go. But they've also learned that admitting you can't do it all is a strength, not a weakness. "You have to dare to say: I can't do this alone," says Daphné. ### Building a Legacy That Outlasts You Nicky is already thinking about the future—a future where House of Vankets thrives without him. That means building a team, systems, and a brand that can stand on its own. It's not just about creating beautiful clothes; it's about creating a sustainable business. And that requires a different kind of creativity—the entrepreneurial kind. ### Lessons from the Trenches Here are a few takeaways from their journey: - **Cashflow is king.** No matter how creative you are, you need to pay the bills. - **Hire slow, fire fast.** Trust your gut, but also know when to let someone go. - **Failure is part of the process.** Bankruptcy taught them resilience. - **You can't do it alone.** A strong partner can change everything. > "Sometimes you have to lose everything to realize what truly matters." – Nicky Vankets Their story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is messy. It's about building, failing, and getting back up. And sometimes, it's about realizing it's time to do things completely differently. Want more insights from Belgian entrepreneurs? Visit www.belgische-ondernemers.be (nofollow).