MAFAD Graduation Expo 2019

Jolieke Kessels

MAFAD Graduation 2019 exhibition took place from July 4 to 7 at the building of academy. The exhibition featured graduates from fine arts and design department. Unlike the other academies in The Netherlands MAFAD graduation did include a fashion show. The Body design students will present their fashion show during FASHIONCLASH Festival in November.
The exhibition already provided a close look to their projects.
The graduates presented a variety of concepts based on sustainability, sportswear, slow fashion, craftsmanship and emancipation of menswear.
Julina Vanille Bezold presented a well-researched collection by presenting a sustainable design manifesto that aims to create a new awareness for the appreciation of clothing. By equating the new ancient holistic teaching of the Chinese Wu Xing concept with a holistic design approach, her collection contains five outfits that can all be worn in multiple combinations. In addition she created a film to show a glimpse behind the Wu-Xing philosophy, namely that everything in the world and in the universe is connected.
Michelle Cornelissen created an alter ego 'Michi'm' portrated as a Disney villian based on her personal characteristics, visualising the different identities behind a single person and the freedom to play with identities. Natalia Rumiantseva presented a collection of jewellery objects inspired by her childhood spent on a small farm in Russia and the relationship of all species in the world. Her project 'Can you kill the chicken?' touches on many aspects of our culture, society and emotions. 'We based our civilization on using animals and for centuries cruelty was and still is an integral part. However, what are the reasons for the cruelty and how do we preceive it nowadays in time of humanization and progress?' 
Jolieke Kessels combined traditional crafts with contemporary materials and techniques aiming to showcase slow fashion and a gettaway for the busyness of our lives.
The Body design department exhibition also featured work of Dana Lipka and Ashley Luypaers, both Lichting 2019 finalists and work of Max Niereisel and Empar Juanes Sanchis.

http://www.mafad.nl

WDKA Fashion Show 2019

Mirthe Alferink

On July 5th, the fashion design class of 2019 from the WDKA  (Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam) presened their graduation show at Ubik theatre. The show, organized by the students themselves, provided a charming insight into their mostly personal graduation projects. With themes as sustainability, LGBTQ+ community, internet culture, streetwear and sportswear the show provided a diverse approach to contemporary fashion design.
Chloë Severien presented a ready to wear knitwear collection based on re-usable yarn made from recycled PET plastic. By using fabrics as a medium to tell stories, Larissa Ishimwee gave voice to a group of illegal refugees of Amsterdam.
Robin Cuppens deconstructed the business suit, Susanne Vos presented the 'new look' based on sportwear and Axel Verwee made his collection by waisted tents from festivals. Mickey Nerrings presented the most outspoken collection based on voilence and bullying against the LGBTQ+ community. He translated this into the idea to use the scarecrow as a metaphor to scare away the bullies and fight against anti-gay voilence. Project that intruiged the most was Adobefashion by Rosalie van Pinxteren. With this project she explored the influence of internet culture on today's digital fashion and its role in our changing perception of reality. By translating photoshoped shapes into actual garments she questioned if we can still distinguish reality from manipulation and vice versa. In addition, she aims to show that fashion manifests beyond the physical world.

Instagram: wdkafashiongraduates
https://www.wdka.nl

Robin Cuppens

HKU Fashion Graduation Show 2019

Armia Yousefi

On June 26th, at in Utrecht, HKU fashion design graduates showcased their final collections.
'THE DON'T KNOW SHOW expressed perfectly the free spirt of the class of 2019. Designers who had approached their projects more experimentally showed the interesting proposals such as Esra Copur who with her project 'Programmed Society' analysed the society’s daily habits and routines in relation to consumer behaviour. She wants to portray people as programmed individuals who are constantly buying items because of the routine they got stuck in.  Or Iris Otten who showed a performance with models attached to objects, struggling with imposed restrictions. She visualised her project with a live performance and in a fashion film.  
Studio Noij (by twins Dafne and Nikki Noij) researched the role of the traditional cliches of The Netherlands such as tulips and windmills and the contradiction that these nostalgic symbols do not play a role in the contemporary Dutch culture.
Jiske Kosian addressed the mental issues such as burn-out epidemy. With her collection she aims to break the taboo surrounding negative emotions in particular in regard to men, and to address that vulnerability can exist without diminishing masculinity.
Sophie Wantia presented a playful collection 'Need to Play' as an antidote to the daily pressures, both in society as well as in design methods. While Laila El Alaoui got inspired by hyperreal tourism, Anouk van Kampen Wieling sent her models to a journey to Rockall in Atlantic Ocean, posing a question: How do you prepare for a yourney to nothing?
Armia Yousefi impressed with a personal collection inspired by his Persian heritage, mythology, politics and old photos of his parents' wedding. "The photos date from the late 1970s and were taken in Tehran during the revolution. I was inspired to design my own wedding scenario, and I made a collection that includes elements such as mythology, romance and mixed martial arts."

Featured fashion designers: Leila El Alaoui, Dewi Barend, Esra Copur, Kim Fransen, Janique Hamers, Melanie Hazeleger, Patrick Hiemstra, Eef Hietbrink, Dennis Huizinga, Anouk van Kampen Wieling, Teddy Kamper, Jiske Kosian, Studio E (Ellis van Loosbroek& Elise de Wit), Veerle Martens, Pam van der Meijs, Studio Noij (Dafne & Nikki Noij), Iris Otten, Loes Pennings, Sophie Wantia, Armia Yousefi

www.hku.nl
All images are by brankopopovicblog

Litter Cleaning - Schueller de Waal

SCHUELLER DE WAAL / SDW Studio presents

Collaborative Cleaning Initiative

‘Litter’ 

For Paris Haute Couture 2019/2020 the Dutch fashion design duo Schueller de Waal teamed up with Pik Pik Environnement to present its first Collaborative Cleaning Initiative named ‘Litter’, supported by the city of Paris.

On tuesday 2 July, on a public square, right in front of the town-hall of the 15th arrondissement, a group of 50 models, cool kids and volunteers started to clean the streets in an upbeat cleansing fashion performance. The models picked up trash from the streets, dressed head-to-toe in freshly made garments made from the studio’s leftover fabrics, deadstock and other remains from the fashion industry.

Cleaning (in) Haute Couture
 The act of cleaning served as an inspiration for both the presentation as well as a design principle. With the performance, the initiators aim to make a powerful statement on the current state of the industry and inspire for change. ‘Litter’ is the next step for SDW in unfolding their story of ‘Fashion Therapy’.
‘Litter’ elevates ‘the act of cleaning’ by combining different elements into a collective cleaning session. Rather than changing a location to meet the needs of a fashion show, SDW Studio created an intervention that has a positive effect on the location. Collaborating with local NGO’s (PikPik Environnement, Green Bird Paris) educating about garbage separation and conscious living as part of city maintenance, and fashion professionals (stylists, fashion journalists etc.) supporting the mission, SDW Studio dressed a diverse group of people in an eclectic range of cleaning uniforms.

Collection
Driven by the idea of re-using previous collections and giving them a new context, the collection translates the concept of ‘Litter’ into re-purposing. SCHUELLER DE WAAL re-purposes their body of work into a range of one-size-fits-all and multifunctional cleaning uniforms through various re-purposing design principles.
The foundation of the collection is the repetition of a singular silhouette, a workwear inspired overall. The symbolic meaning of ‘rolling up your sleeves’ to work defines the look and feel of the collection. Through belting systems the uniforms can be worn in various ways, creating different looks or silhouettes within a singular style.
The overalls are made from patchworks of leftover fabrics and past collections pieces. In order to give the eclectic mix of fabrics a uniform look SCHUELLER DE WAAL collaborated with textile artist Aliki van der Kruijs. Her research project ‘Afterseason’ investigates the potentials of waste ink from the textile printing industry. Aliki and SCHUELLER DE WAAL airbrushed a layer of purple pigment onto the uniforms into a unique range of prints. Working from the principle of avoiding to waste resources, everything touched by the airbrush technique has been used and turned into items of the collection. To fix the pigment on the fabrics, a reflective coating was applied, reminiscent of the reflective detailing of waste collector’s uniforms. When photographed with flash unexpected silhouettes within the overalls become visible.

Another tongue in cheek interpretation of ‘cleaning wear’ is seen in the ‘couture’ pieces made from non-woven cleaning cloth in the typical pink and yellow. The NGO’s logo t-shirts, that are normally worn as a uniform in their activities, have been customised with SCHUELLER DE WAAL shirting details. Pieces from previous RTW collections have been cut up and remixed into apron like shapes - featuring a clashing combination of workwear pocketing in luxurious fabrics. As the couture fabrics used were often just sample coupons or leftovers, not enough to create full garments, the fabrics have been re-created with office- and household materials. Aluminium foil re-creates a metallic brocade fabric and marker pens are used to redraw patterns of a floral jacquard. SDW deadstock has been turned inside out and bonded with silk organza leftovers, for a sculptural effect. Shift dresses turned into sleeves, and uniform pants and dungarees are patched with functional design elements.

Most of the cleaning uniforms were accompanied by safety shoes by the Dutch brand EMMA Safety footwear, known for their Corporate Social Responsibility mission. For the silhouettes mimicking couture references, SCHUELLER DE WAAL collaborated with footwear designer Marko Bakovic. A small series of functional safety boots are presented with fully rubberised uppers and soles made from dead stock pleather.

The soundscape of the presentation, a multi-lingual shout out to not litter, was designed by Bea1991.

Photography Team Peter Stigter

S(eeking) D(esign) W(ellbeing)

http://schuellerdewaal.com

Fashion Statements - Amsterdam Museum

Bas Kosters

The clothes we wear reveal something about our personality. Fashion expresses our identity, what we consider important or what we stand for. Curated by Marian Duff, the founder of MAFB and OSCAM, the exhibition features more than 75 historical costumes, each of which was used by their wearer to express themselves or to express a message. In this exhibition, six leading contemporary designers place their creations alongside and opposite our historical collection of fashion from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
For this exhibition, Ninamounah, Bas Kosters, Karim Adduchi, Marga Weimans, Patta and Art Comes First where invited to reflect on the context of the exhibition. In a short documentary they give their personal vision of the exhibited historical clothing.

Fashion Statements is on show until September 8th.
https://www.amsterdammuseum.nl/en/exhibitions/fashion-statements

KABK The Hague Fashion Show 2019

Stella Kim
photo: Nosh Ipenburg, Lumi Tuomi and Melissa Schriek

Exposed - The show of the fashion and textile department of the KABK, The Royal Academy of Fine Art The Hague took place on 14th of June. The show featured work of bachelor students and fashion and textile graduates of 2019.

The Keep an Eye Textile & Fashion Award 2019 went to textile graduate Stella Hyunju Kim who impressed with her project 'Artificial Calm', exploring the contemporary symbolic meaning of fire.

'My project consists of 2 single beds and a curtain. The bed and curtain symbolises our daily life whilst harbouring the most textiles in our rooms. I researched the patterns of how fire can destruct, deconstruct and decay the structures of daily objects and how it creates layers containing a story. I am introducing a new way of preserving burnt objects by placing it in a room context just the way it is, telling its untold story and values.'

Trumaine Huijts translated his irritation over large fashion brands that are taking over the elements from the skate culture. By experimenting with knitting techniques, he wanted to give something back to the skate community, by showing what else skate clothing can be.  The fashion graduate Lina Lau researched on the meaning of term 'luxury' and translated this in a rich and layered collection, namely the 'A Premium Mediocre Collection'. She mixed historical references from the Renaissance with contemporary sportwear. Vincent Wong impressed with the stunning and well tailored menswear collection 'Juvenile Oddity', exploring traditional tailoring and the influence of technology on our lives.
The theme of technology also occured in the work of Otilia Vieru, exploring speculative virtual reality and the potential impact and influence of technology on mankind. 'Welcome to the Braindrain'  is based on a world in which technology plays a major role, and the humanity does not know how to deal with it. Shijia Hao got was inspired by large cities that are suffering from urbanization and industrialization showing a imaginative working class in a futuristic dystopia.

Take a look at the picture report below. All images unless mentioned otherwise are by brankopopovicblog

AMFI - Graduation Fashion Show 2019

Marie Lamberechts

On June 12th, at the Kromhouthal in Amsterdam, AMFI fashion design graduates showcased their final collections. The evening consisted of a fashion show part and then an exhibition.
The show was one with a number of strong presentations and performances and above al a great dose of graduation energy. A number of students had succeeded in making a statement in a few minutes with a clear story. The simple catwalk, rather a theater setup, suited well for the presentations. The highlight of the evening was the display of a diversity of approaches and investigations. Projects on digital fashion, movement, gender, sustainability and identity passed the runway; from blow-up balloon dress presented by Marie Lamberechts, to quirky dance performace by Kateryna Boiko, spectacular take in 'gabber' subculture by Lotte Valkenburg, striking 3D virtual fashion design collection by Iris van Wees, sustainable fashion statement by Juris Efneris to the moving re:GENDER collection and short docymentary by Shannen Bijkersma.

http://amfi.nl

Take a look at the picture report.

Gerrit Rietveld Academie - Fashion Show 2019

Emma Tornsteinrud

On Saturday 8 June 2019, the fashion department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academy presented "Fashion Show 2019", containing the graduation collections of a new group of designers and a selection from the work of first- and second-year fashion students.
The venue of the show this year was the vacant Tripolis complex designed by Aldo van Eyck, located on the edge of the Zuidas in Amsterdam. 
Fashion Show 2019 presented the results of personal and experimental learning processes of students Laetitzia Campbell, Erika Jonasson, Karis Lindelien, Mika Perlmutter, Bodil Ouédraogo, Emma Tornsteinrud and Krystian Sokolowski who cooperated with graphic design student Vincent Ludwig.
They offer challenging visions on the medium of fashion with a sense of the contemporary and the visionary. They relate to their diverse cultural backgrounds and question Western reality and identity. Especially the proposals that discuss and open up the complexity of today's society made an impression.

https://rietveldacademie.nl

Show report, all images by brankopopovicblog

ArtEZ Fashion Show 2019

On June 7th, ArtEZ, as the first in line of the graduation fashion shows in The Netherlands, presented their Class of 2019 at Musis in Arnhem. The space, with its very and hard to beat own ambiemance, was successfully brought back to the essence by Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck.
The show featured first and second year experiments.  In addition, Collectie Arnhem 2019, the third year collaborative project was presented.
The quality of the mostly raw proposals in the Collectie Arnhem was generally lacking in the graduation collections. Undoubtedly committed and with the best of intentions, the new generation presented itself to the world. It was a show with varying levels, leaving the room with an unanswered quest to know more about the stories behind the work. Often strong in material research and application and not always strong in form and consistency of the collection line up. However, there was enough talent to be enthralled. Especially enjoyed the proposals of Dylan Westerweel, Michelle Vossen, Django Tetteroo, Kevin Pleiter, Manon Romeijn, Joline Kwakkenbos, Nina Librud and here and there individual pieces.

www.artez.nl

Take a look at the highlights and my picture report.

Andy Summers, A Certain Strangeness

Andy Summers, A Certain Strangeness at Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht
07.06.2019 t/m 27.10.2019

With over 400 pictures from the period 1979-2018, the exhibition A "Certain Strangeness" is the first retrospective of the photographic work of British photographer and guitar legend Andy Summers. The geographical locations of the shots range from the Alto Plano in Bolivia to the alleyways of the Golden Gai in Tokyo. Besides showing a preference for night-time photos, his work is characterized by a sense of intimacy and surrealism, and dynamics that can best be described as 'in media res'.

Part of the exhibition comprises a series of photos taken by Summers during his tours with The Police. This series called "Let's Get Weird" will also be shown in the Bonnefanten Pinkpop-up Museum at Pinkpop, from 8 until 10 June 2019.

Since 1979, the year that The Police gave a legendary performance at Pinkpop, Summers has also been a fanatic photographer. He has published four books: Throb (1983), Light Strings (2004), I'll be Watching You (2007) and Desirer Walks the Street (2009). In 2012, he made the film Can't stand losing you, based on his autobiography of the same name, in which an important role is played by his photography practice. Summers says that his photographs may be influenced by his interest in music and that photography forms a visual counterpart to the music constantly playing in his mind. Just as his musical preference can be described as a taste for the melancholic, the convulsive melodic line, the dark chord with a few stray notes added, in his visual practice, too, he is drawn towards photographing in a brooding minor key.

https://www.bonnefanten.nl/en

We're in This Together

Maison the Faux

Museum Arnhem presents the new exhibition "We're In This Together" in its temporary De Kerk presentation space.
Curated by Renee van der Hoek, the exhibition shows international fashion designers that break with fashion conventions in the field of identity, equality and diversity.

Fashion reflects the zeitgeist and gives everyone the opportunity to express themselves. We're in this together shows work by national and international designers, including Hardeman, Bethany Williams, MAISON the FAUX, Neith Nyer, GAMUT, Lisa Konno, Ludovic de saint Sernin and Camiel Fortgens. Their designs are diverse and for both men and women. They offer a place for those who cannot agree with the existing expectations and provide a different sound in the fashion world.


In addition to the exhibition you can take part in JOIN Collective Clothes workshop by Anouk Beckers.

More information: https://www.museumarnhem.nl

GAMUT

Fashion + Design Festival Arnhem 2019

MAISON the FAUX

FDFA | Fashion + Design Festival Arnhem 2019 - We Are People

On June 1, the 6th edition of the FDFA was officially opened at the FDFA Showroom. The Showroom will remain open until June 8.
During the month of June various fashion related events will be taking place through out the city of Arnhem. Over 50 events are scheduled including the ArtEZ Graduation Shows, Nacht van de Mode, We're in This together exhibition and so on.

During the opening week the work of MAISON the FAUX, Anne Kluytenaar, Nina Pen and Victor Klijsen, among others, can be viewed at FDFA Showroom.
Their work ties in with the theme of FDFA’19: WE ARE PEOPLE, and has a special link with identity, diversity and inclusiveness.

More information: https://fdfarnhem.nl

Redress Design Award 2019 Finalists

Redress announces the Redress Design Award 2019 Finalists - 10 emerging design talents shortlisted from hundreds of applicants from across the globe who are ready to transform fashion’s waste into want. Representing the cutting-edge of fashion creativity, the finalists, (who include menswear designers for the first time in the competition’s history), now have just 11 weeks to bring their concepts to life before presenting their collections in Hong Kong later this year at the live Grand Final where the winners will be announced.

Sangue Novo Calls for designers

ModaLisboa continues to focus on the discovery and promotion of new talents in Fashion and the development of emerging author brands, through the Sangue Novo – Young Designers Competition. The applications for the next edition of the competition run until July 5, 2019.

JOIN Collective Clothes

JOIN Collective Clothes 
A project by Anouk Beckers i.c.w. Beau Bertens

JOIN Collective Clothes is a design and research project which explores fashion as a collective practice, focusing on making and wearing clothes together. Everyone is invited to design and make a part of a garment – for example a sleeve - which together can be connected into full outfits. The pieces made by various makers form an ever-growing collection, questioning constructed values created by the (fast) fashion industry. The launch of an open-source manual marks the start of the project, and is followed by a series of workshops and designer commissions. All results will be exhibited at the end of 2019.
JOIN Collective Clothes is an initiative by fashion designer Anouk Beckers and graphic designer Beau Bertens.

JOIN Collective Clothes – a modular system The base of JOIN Collective Clothes is a modular clothing system that consists of four different shapes which can be combined into a full outfit (a sleeve, a top, a trouser leg and a part of a skirt). An easy-to-use open source manual invites people to get started in designing and making the pieces themselves. This manual is available at San Serriffe for €10,- or can be downloaded for free at www.joincollectiveclothes.com. On this website, all the results are collected to create an ever-growing collection of garment-pieces, designed by people all over the world.

“What if we open up the fashion system and explore it as a non-fixed entity, a system where people can playfully join in, where everyone is invited to create fashion together?” Initiator Anouk Beckers on JOIN Collective Clothes:

Workshops - JOIN the collective Fashion is a collective practice, although it is often perceived as something that is not for everyone. To grant everyone access, JOIN Collective Clothes will set up a workshop tour. Everyone is invited to join one of the 4-hour workshops to design and make a garment-piece. At the end of the workshop, the results from the participants are joined into one full outfit. The process is playful, but at the same time critically questions the characteristics of the fashion system. Subjects such as ownership, identity, (intellectual) property, production methods, alienation, mystification and value creation are discussed through this project.

JOIN Collective Clothes 2019 Tour
1 June 2019: De Appel Amsterdam
8 & 29 June 2019: De Kerk by Museum Arnhem
7 July 2019: Capsicum Amsterdam
13 July 2019: De Kerk by Museum Arnhem
September 2019: Casco Art Institute Utrecht
October 2019: Dutch Design Week Eindhoven
1-3 November 2019: FASHIONCLASH Festival Maastricht

Check www.joincollectiveclothes.com for details and how to apply