Interview with Iris from CYCLEUR de LUXE

A chat with Iris from CYCLEUR de LUXE

Anyone who regularly visits CAST will probably already recognise her face: Iris, who has been the go-to contact for CYCLEUR de LUXE in the Netherlands for five years now. From the showroom at CAST, she represents both the women’s and men’s collections and is a familiar face to many retailers.

From tourism to shoes: a perfect match

Before joining CYCLEUR de LUXE, Iris worked in a completely different sector. She was in tourism, but due to the pandemic, she was more or less forced to leave that world behind. During her search, she returned to what had always driven her. Iris has two great passions: cycling and fashion. That combination turned out to be closer than she thought, thanks to a Belgian brand that brings precisely those two worlds together.

What’s more, she’s always had a natural flair for sales. “In my previous career, I sold holidays using photos, videos, and so on… my customers had to rely on what I told them, often based on my own experience. Now I can literally show what I’m selling. I can hold it in my hands, let someone feel it, draw them into the story behind a product. That suits me much better.”

The charm of building relationships

When Iris looks back on her time at CYCLEUR de LUXE, one thing keeps coming up:

“Building relationships with customers is what I enjoy most of all. The Netherlands was quite a challenge for me at first, but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve really grown here as a person, as a salesperson and as a brand ambassador.”

With a smile: “And well, I was, of course, almost the only Flemish woman in CAST. That sometimes led to some funny situations.” “Once I said about a shoe: ‘That looks nice with trousers, slacks or a dress.’ In Flanders, that’s just a dress. And then a customer replied: ‘You mean a dress? In the Netherlands, we throw a dress on the floor,’ she laughs. “But now it’s going perfectly. I feel completely welcome.”

A Belgian brand that fits the Netherlands perfectly

CYCLEUR de LUXE has its roots in Belgium, but has been active on the Dutch market for years. According to Iris, this was no coincidence:

“Our style and collections simply resonate very well with Dutch consumers. We started as a men’s brand, and later added women’s wear. In the meantime, we’ve also launched our clothing collection, meaning both men and women can be dressed from head to toe in CYCLEUR de LUXE. And a few years ago, we also became a licensee for State of Art footwear. We develop and produce the entire shoe range for them. That makes the overall picture even more complete.”

A fixture at CAST for ten years

The CYCLEUR de LUXE showroom has now become an integral part of the city centre. “I’ve been here for five years myself,” says Iris, “but the brand has had a presence here for at least ten years.” They were originally based elsewhere, but a few years ago they moved to a large showroom right next to the atrium.

What we’ll see in the new collection

In the new men’s collection, it’s particularly striking that solid colours dominate. Light-coloured soles are gradually fading into the background, making way for more tone-on-tone shades and warm cream variants. The look is becoming slightly more refined, with a subtle blend of sporty and smart. That semi-dressed, casual-chic silhouette is clearly gaining ground. A trend that began last summer at weddings and celebrations, and which is now effortlessly continuing into the winter season.

For women, the focus is firmly on thinner soles and elegant trainers. This is particularly evident in our Maison C collection: the styles are becoming smarter, more flirty and more dressed-up, but without compromising on comfort. Think of refined slip-ons, slingbacks, ballerinas and styles with subtle straps; trainers are certainly here to stay, but are taking on a chic, dressed-up character. Whilst men often opt for muted colours, women’s styles can be bold and playful. The Bambi trend is set to be a striking eye-catcher this coming winter.

A shoe cupboard full of stories

Iris doesn’t have to think long about her own shoe collection.

“My cupboard is bursting at the seams. And to be honest? There’s a mountain of shoes in front of it too,” she laughs. “I’ve got everything: trainers, nine-centimetre heels, loafers, flip-flops… From super-casual to decidedly chic.”

Discover the CYCLEUR de LUXE collection at the CAST showroom 040-051.