A Meeting with Akeel Eduardo
‘Curiosity keeps me young – I feel at home everywhere’
Akeel Eduardo is the brand manager and co-founder of Ange Projects, a fashion label that bridges lifestyle, culture, and self-expression.
Ask him who he is, and after a pause, the answer is simple yet complex: layered.
“I have a wide spectrum of interests, all fueled by curiosity. Curiosity keeps me young and helps me feel at home anywhere.”
Born in St. Maarten, Akeel lived there until he was ten. His mother, seeking what she believed would be the best for his development, moved the family to the Netherlands. First to Leiden, then Eindhoven. Basketball eventually brought him to Amsterdam, where he has lived for the past ten years.
Growing up between St. Maarten and the Netherlands was a study in contrast. “Sometimes I didn’t even know who I was. I had Antillean friends and Dutch friends and was a different person with each. When they came together, I wasn’t sure who I really was and how to act. But I’m grateful for being shaped by both cultures.”
His taste and style emerged early. Every other summer Akeel and his mom went back to St. Maarten to visit family. His older sister, who was still living there, used to introduce him to new music from the U.S. Akeel remembers her playing Jesus Walks by Kanye West for him for the first time when he was 12. Every time he saw his older sister it felt like he changed a little. “I remember things like her asking our mother for money so we could go shopping because in her words I needed an upgrade lol. She used to tell me what to wear and what not to. It’s crazy. Unfortunately she’s not here with us anymore but she was the most influential person in my life when it comes to style and the reason why I express myself through style today.”
Eindhoven offered another perspective. As one of the few non-Dutch kids, Akeel felt the challenge of being different but never inferior. Reflection became a tool; understanding differences became part of his identity. Luckily, the Netherlands he knew was open-minded, encouraging growth rather than conformity.
Basketball has always been central to Akeel’s life, shaping his discipline, resilience, and ambition. At sixteen, after receiving a red card in football, he fully embraced basketball. The sport that ignited his first real passion. “I started later than others, so I had to catch up. Everyone said I’d never go pro. But I believed in myself and trained like a maniac. Eventually, I played professionally and even represented the Dutch national team.”
High-level sport taught him more than dedication; it taught him self-critique, discipline, and how to handle criticism. “If I couldn’t do something, I trained all summer until I could. Some criticism used to hit my character, forcing me to evolve as both a player and a person.”
While basketball dominated his life, school sometimes fell behind. But inspired by the people around him, he returned to academics, studying Commercial Economics. A foundation that would later prove invaluable for his entrepreneurial journey.
Style was his initial introduction to creativity. Clothing became his first tool of self-expression. Later on Akeel explored photography inspired by his friend Worthy de Jong. “Worthy is a bit older than I am, so when I was 17 I knew who he was before he knew me. I remember feeling inspired because he took cool pictures next to being a basketball player. I eventually bought a cheap camera and started experimenting.” That exploration made Akeel immerse himself more into the world of fashion, it made him curious about the people, the craft, and the artistry. Such is his admiration for Martin Margiela as he transforms fabric into pieces, that he even had the four-stitch logo tattooed on his back. A permanent tribute to craftsmanship and creativity.
This creative drive sparked the idea to start a label. He wanted a collaborative venture, and it turned out two friends shared the same vision. In 2021, Akeel, Mike Saris, and Nigel Bertrams, three friends from Eindhoven with no formal fashion background, launched Ange Projects. From a single shirt, cap, socks, and a sweatshirt, their collection has grown to over 40 pieces sold in premium stores across the Netherlands and Belgium.
The name Ange was chosen for its simplicity and resonance, it means nothing yet carries everything. With Ange Projects, they tell a story: friendship, shared values and a love for a life well-enjoyed. Beyond fashion, they explore tableware, wine, and other elements of a lifestyle centered on enjoyment and mindfulness.
“I’m learning every day, drawing from all my interests. Entrepreneurship is a mirror: it challenges you, demands self-critique, and pushes you to improve continuously. The key is balance. Pursuing dreams without overthinking, allowing things to unfold in their own time.”
“That six-year-old on St. Maarten would be thrilled to see what I am doing now. He’d be proud. And honestly, I am too.”