About ZEELAND
THE ARTIST
Nikki Ascher is the artist, sewist, and designer behind the ZEELAND collection. From a very young age Nikki gravitated towards creative ventures. With an innate passion for sustainability, Nikki has always turned to recycled materials as the base of her art. As a self taught sewist, Nikki was gifted her first sewing machine at age sixteen. Through the years, Nikki has expanded her creative mediums across a variety of channels, while continuing to breathe new ideas into her evolving collection of textile arts.
Early in her career Nikki worked as a display artist for Anthropologie, where she was a part of a team that designed and built elaborate window displays and installations across New York.
Nikki resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two children. While she enjoys sewing during the quiet moments in her home (between the hours of 8PM - 2AM)... during the day, Nikki manages a boutique creative recruitment and talent consultancy wearesimone.co.
Our Namesake
In 1922, at the age of nineteen, Nikki's great grandmother Sonia Sklar embarked on a life-altering journey when she boarded the S.S. Zeeland and left Ukraine to start a new life in America. After sailing for ten days, Sonia and her family arrived at Ellis Island with dreams for a brighter future. Sonia was also secretly determined to reunite with the love of her life, Louis Mogolevsky, who was still in Ukraine. Sonia began working as a seamstress, using her self-taught skills to craft bespoke clothing and drapery for loyal customers, diligently saving every hard-earned penny — sustaining on only jelly sandwiches — all with the sole purpose of sending money back to Ukraine so Louis could join her in America. On January 3, 1923, Louis arrived and the two married on February 9, 1923. Their story stands as a testament to the enduring power of love and the resilience of those who dare to chase their dreams.
Sonia was a proud member of the Pioneer Women where she lobbied for women’s rights. She was an advocate for marginalized communities and a champion for humanity and peace.