REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED
I think we should make something magical today
TOMORROW could be the someday YOU’VE BEEN waiting for
GRATEFUL
Time is NOW
Seminario Ilustración, Arte y Moda
Fashion Illustration Seminar – October 2026
A meeting point between art and imagination, where fabrics, textures, shoes, and fashion trends are transformed into evocative visual narratives. A creative space to explore shapes, discover details, and bring images to life, expressing a personal vision of fashion and style.
MINKA 2026
Some collaborations represent much more than a single creation.
Together with Elena Werner, a costume and textile artist, we developed Germination, a textile artwork crafted from reclaimed polypropylene recovered from industrial bulk bags.
Inspired by the natural process of germination, the piece explores the relationship between nature, material transformation, and creative expression, giving discarded industrial materials a new artistic life.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122175259430912330&set=pcb.122175259640912330
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7460145360615653376/
Step into a world of fantasy, magic and visual storytelling.
Baile en el castillo de Naina is a ballet set in an enchanted world inhabited by sorcerers, princesses, supernatural creatures and mysterious shadows.
This creative project brought together costume design, classical ballet technique and repertoire, exploring the visual language of dance through sketches, fabrics, accessories, lighting, set design and music.
From the first sketches to the final visual composition, the process offered an opportunity to discover how costume and scenography contribute to the creation of a magical world on stage.
The project took place at the Sociedad Española de Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina, bringing the magic of ballet and the art of costume design into a historic cultural setting.
Floraliën – flower time
Flowertime is back in 2025 with the promise of surprising you once again with a theme that will allow artists to give free rein to their imagination to transform and enchant the different rooms of the Hôtel de Ville.
We are proposing a route that will take visitors through the architectural wealth of 15 rooms in the City Hall, while discovering the colourful creations of our Belgian and international florists.
The theme of this edition is a tribute to another art form in which Belgium excels: fashion and textile design.
flower time – Meet the artist
🌸 Elena Werner brings her experience as a costume designer into her floral installations. She works with flowers as if they were fabrics: expressive, layered, and theatrical. Since 2023, floral art has become part of her artistic practice.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMf4bjwyM-W/?hl=zh-cn&img_index=1
Terugblik op Flowertime 2025 – Belgisch talent verbluft met sprekende bloemencreaties
Thankful for the invitation and the support by Floraliën -specially Pieter Toebaert – and Flower Carpet. Lise Surmont and Elena Werner have worked together for the first time on the Flowertime exhibition.
CeCla
CeCla has welcomed me to talk about my studies and work in Europe on costume and fashion design. At the crossroads of arts / shoe design / entrepreneurship, Cecla joins forces with partners, artistic institutions and local actors on the fields of design.
FECOL + Expodema 2024
The Friends Association of the Museum of Colonization plays an important role in the evolution of Esperanza. I was invited to participate with a flower arrangement and speaking to the visitors.
MODA CREATIVA
In September 2024, María Rosa Ramirez invited me to her television show on the set of Esperanza’s Play Televisión to review my journey as a costume designer over the last twenty years.
EXPO Horst in de steigers
During Horst in de steigers, Herita lets you experience the restoration of the moated castle from the front row. Between 8 May and 8 September, you are more than welcome to experience Horst in de steigers in various experience programs.
https://www.herita.be/nl/monumenten/kasteel-van-horst/groep-naar-horst-de-steigers
Kasteel van Horst
Maria Anna van den Tympel
Finally we can screen the film we made with partner Handelsreizigers in ideeën for the Horst in de steigers exhibition & Herita. The tailor-made gown for the extra represents transformation, intuition and change. The spirit of a woman was the inspiration for the colours, moths, circle of life and embroidery: Countess Maria Anna van den Tympel.
HERITA
https://platform-bloem.nl/dashboard/nieuws/bloemenbanket-in-kasteel-van-laarne/https://www.herita.be/nl/events/bloemenbanket
A medieval Castle and flowers
In the medieval Castle of Laarne a new flower exhibition by Floraliën Gent and heritage foundation Herita, opens on Thursday. They join forces with ten florists from home and abroad and students to literally and figuratively decorate the historical halls and rooms of the castle with flowers. The exhibition is all about floral table decorations.
KOPERGIETERY
In times of climate change, the young Ghent music theatre company OPERAWERF113 presents a performance about ecological concerns, urban flight and self-imposed isolation. Two works by the classical composer Joseph Haydn form the basis: the cantata Arianne a Naxos and the short opera L’isola disabitata
Clothes make the man (or woman)!
Elena Werner is a costume designer and is fascinated by historical and contemporary costumes. She has worked at numerous prestigious festivals and opera houses at home and abroad. For our production EDELWILD we can benefit from all her experience: Elena makes sure that we look excellent with her costumes!
https://www.facebook.com/Operawerf113/photos/pb.100063944591555.-2207520000/367814515346881/?type=3
OPERABASE
Operabase has documented operatic activity worldwide since 1996, with over 800,000 performances on file. It records the work of artists in over 3000 theatres, and publishes season information to opera-goers in 34 languages.
mediarte
Mediarte is the Social Fund for the audiovisual sector and film production in Belgium and includes all private radio stations, TV stations, production companies, facility companies and digital agencies
STADSPALEIS d’HANE STEENHUYSE
https://historischehuizen.stad.gent/nl/hotel-dhane-steenhuyse
En busca de …. Elena Werner
by Raúl Vigini
RV – Thinking about crossing the ocean. When, where, why?
EW – Why Ghent? I guess I still ask myself that question to this day. Why did I stay in this medieval city? I dropped the anchor of my ark back in 1997
when I came for the first time on summer vacation to visit friends of my parents, who had invited me to see
Belgium and part of Europe. It was all an adventure in itself, magic, endless possibilities and a goal in itself. The decision was forged over the course of my entire career in fashion design.
Diario La Opinión Rafaela – Argentina
RV – How a costume designer works?
EW – Being a costume designer has many different uses, whether it be theatre, dance, ballet, opera or film. Events and television are also part of the work field. There is no pre-established path. I have tried a few, testing the waters, but where I have felt most comfortable was with dance.
How to become a costume designer
https://diariolaopinion.com.ar/la-palabra/en-busca-de-elena-werner-vestuarista.htm
FRASERIA & Hilde Berckmoes
https://fraseria.com/2021/11/16/kostuums-ontwerpen-intens-samenwerken-met-creatieve-geesten/
Simone Simons at my workshop in Ghent – Belgium
https://simonesimonsfrance.wordpress.com/2019/08/09/tim-tronckoe-portraits-book/
Book presentation: De vergeten prinsessen van Thorn
https://www.rijckheyt.nl/in-de-kijker/boekpresentatie-de-vergeten-prinsessen-van-thorn
I was present on that day at the Munttheater !
EL LITORAL * stage & society
https://www.ellitoral.com/escenarios-sociedad/bastian-bastiana-frutos-continuidad_0_ITKwlDV9Br.html
Opera in two cities in Santa Fe – Argentina
LECTURE at German Association Esperanza – Argentina
Within the framework of the celebrations of the National Agricultural Festival, the German Association invites you to participate in a German-style Tea accompanied by a talk on the topic: Das Gewand der Heimat “The Clothing of the Homeland”, which will be given by the outstanding professional Elena Werner.
Dirndl, Lederhose and Patria: traditional German clothing and its current reality
MEY AWARDS
The Micro-Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards are an initiative of the 4 most important micro-financiers in Belgium: microStart, Impulskrediet, Crédal and Brusoc. The largest part of the Belgian business landscape consists of sole proprietorships and other small businesses. They deserve to be appreciated and encouraged because they also contribute to our prosperity.
MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR 2019
WINNER !
Elena was born in Argentina and studied fashion design. In 2002 she moved to Belgium to follow an additional education in Ghent before starting as an independent costume designer for operas and theatres. In 2018 Elena received a microcredit to invest additionally and thus be able to start working as a full-time entrepreneur.
PUSS IN BOOTS
The Russian composer Cui wrote this fairytale opera in 1913 and transplanted Perrault’s well-known tale in a whimsical musical world in which nature, humans and courtly life are given their own individual sounds.
The story of Puss in Boots is all about the treasure that can be hidden in insignificant little things. If you pay close attention, you can awaken a little voice inside yourself that will encourage you to discover your talents, overcome barriers and realise your dreams. A little performance about a big hero.
Coproduction with Zomeropera Alden Biesen.
Modern touch
Costumes by Elena Werner have a decidedly modern touch – Ferrando and Guglielmo do not dress up as Albanian noblemen, but as bearded hipsters with tattooed upper bodies. An added introduction, prior to the overture, with Mozart (actor Floyd Koster) dressed in a “TEDx Salzburg” t-shirt giving a TED-talk explaining the 18th century context, and attempting to excuse the sexist tone of the work feels rather gimmicky.
https://bachtrack.com/review-cosi-fan-tutte-reisopera-amsterdam-february-2016
BORO
In her search for the right look for the clothing, costume designer Elena Werner discovered the Japanese ‘boro’ technique. Elena Werner: Timothy (Nelson, the director) wanted to work in the direction of contemporary clothing and then I discovered the Japanese ‘boro’ technique with which we can achieve exactly the look of the clothing that we have in mind for The Pearl Fishers. It gives the right ‘worn’ impression.” The boro technique has its origins in Japan. It arose from poverty and scarcity. whereby the clothing was restored layer by layer. Together with the symbolic patterns of the stitching, this layering is characteristic of the boro technique.
https://writteninmusic.com/nieuws/de-reisopera-presenteert-de-parelvissers/ https://handwerkcafezwolle.blogspot.com/2015/02/boro-sashiko-en-opera.html
STAGIONI D’AMORE
International Opera Academy
TI AMO
International Opera Academy https://www.yumpu.com/nl/document/read/20450025/romantiek-in-oostende-2012
CIRCUSCENTRUM
Another notable experience was ‘Fallen Thoughts’ by Studio Eclipse. Technique is of great importance, but everything works out smoothly. On the whole, it was a pleasing hour under the evening sun.
https://backup.circuscentrum.be/gezelschappen/studio-eclipse/
Mozart project
International Opera Academy
Danza del Mar
DREAMSHOP
Devoted to Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, “Dream Shop” is the third installment of a series beginning with the Pitti Immagine Foundation in Florence and the Musée de la Mode et du Textile in Paris.
https://www.momu.be/nl/tentoonstellingen/yohji-yamamoto-dream-shop
DESIGNER FOR Oxfam-Solidarité
+ Marina Yee
https://www.bruzz.be/economie/modesector-reageert-verdeeld-op-de-crisis-2009-11-12
Don’t miss out! ➻
Simply send me an email or make an appointment to get more information.
Costume Design & Scenic Arts
MAISON DENISE
Flōra
