Marine Couture

Founded in 2006 with a team of just two, Risje van Eijk of Marine Couture now manages a staff of ten upholstery and sewing specialists to meet the indoor and outdoor upholstery demands of her ever growing superyacht clientele and luxury villas owners. Originally established as Home Couture, through references from Ernst at Tropical Sail Loft, she found that she was increasingly being asked to undertake work aboard superyachts. With rapidly growing interest for her quality services in this area, she extended to make another branch of her company named Marine Couture in 2008.

Every year we pick up impressive captains’ recommendations for Marine Couture. As Risje explains, the aim of Marine Couture is to produce perfect design solutions for a yacht’s interior and exterior canvas and upholstery solutions, whilst working to each yacht’s different limitations and restrictions - both down below and above deck. The combination of competence, creativity and a large choice of fabrics and materials assure that all Marine Couture projects are realized with success and on time. 

Home & Marine Couture’s new extended workshop with showroom is located in Cole Bay, between Ace Hardware and the Orange Grove Centre. Their newly designated fabric store –Tissus & Co – at the Hope Estate, St. Martin (see ‘Interiors’ section for further details), offers clients the opportunity to view the wide collection of indoor and outdoor fabrics, terrycloth, blinds, outdoor furniture catalogues and other decorative items. Marine Couture works with a French guild of craftsmen to ensure that the highest standards of workmanship are consistently upheld. At the workshop, Risje, Julien, her assistant Joan and their team of machinists pride their design and workmanship as meeting the needs to be both elegant and functional in shape and design – as much as in fine workmanship detail. They are able to make delicate light silk curtains and custom designed lampshades as well as heavy protective covers, sophisticated throw pillows, awnings, fitted motor covers, and stylish outdoor mattresses.

Captains’ feedback for their works continues to tell the story well:

• “Marine Couture made some rushed curtains for us, the quality was excellent and they fitted beautifully.” 
• “Very nicely done and good price!” 
• “Excellent standard of workmanship at very reasonable prices.” 
• “On time, good selection of materials and new ideas!” 
• “Risje is fantastic.” 
• “Top, top quality and on time.” 

And one of the most recent comments received: “We have upholstery work by Marine Couture done three years ago, still in good shape!”