{"id":177152,"date":"2025-03-26T12:14:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T11:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=177152"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:44","slug":"shoumik-loves-vans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/03\/26\/shoumik-loves-vans\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoumik loves Vans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medical student Shoumik doesn\u2019t think he has a ‘typical Dutch style’. But his fashion sense has changed since he moved from Singapore to the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Shoumik poses in front of Erasmus MC. <\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Shoumik (24) has just finished an anamnesis with a simulated patient with a \u2018complex case\u2019. As part of his pre-master\u2019s in Medicine, he practised conducting a complicated medical intake with an actor pretending to be ill. He is now unwinding on a deep leather sofa in the Education Centre of Erasmus MC. He\u2019s dressed in a plain dark blue jumper and khaki trousers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really have a typical Dutch style\u201d, says Shoumik. In his view, that would be light blue jeans and letterman jackets. What sets him apart are his shoes and socks. He has a large Vans collection and buys a new pair every six months. Today, he\u2019s wearing a slip-on pair with the classic checkerboard pattern. His socks resemble hot dogs, with mustard dripping down his ankles.<\/p>\n

Still, his style has changed since moving to the Netherlands from Singapore. \u201cI was really looking forward to winter and the cold. I could finally wear a coat!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>

Shoumik shows off his hotdog socks.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Within his circle of friends, Shoumik is the only one who pays attention to fashion. \u201cMy friends think my style is flamboyant\u201d, he says. He tries to coax them out of their hoodies, with mixed success. They met at Erasmus University College (EUC), where he did his bachelor\u2019s. That was the first place where he could experiment with clothing, after years of wearing school uniforms.<\/p>\n

The transition from EUC to the academic hospital wasn\u2019t always easy. \u201cThere\u2019s a kind of barrier here. At EUC, people are more open, they feel more like my community\u201d, says Shoumik. He points to a button on his chest featuring a drawing of people with different skin tones. He made it with the POC collective to celebrate the beauty of diversity. Jokingly, he adds: \u201cEMC would never have a people-of-colour club.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t

What\u2019s the best compliment you\u2019ve ever received?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018You\u2019ve really put together a great outfit, I think you look amazing!\u2019 A fellow student told me that two days ago. It made me feel good and proud because it confirmed what I already knew, that I looked great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t