Flora Miranda - Deep Web

Flora Miranda presented her Spring/Summer 2019 collection “Deep Web” during Paris Haute Couture Week.

'Deep Web' collection is Flora’s visualization of her very own approach to the idea of ‘Machine Learning’ and is dedicated to explaining the process of teaching a machine what clothing is and how it is produced.

Flora Miranda 'Deep Web' Supercut from Flora Miranda on Vimeo.

Inspired by American transgender artist Amanda Lepore’s image, each design of the collection plays with feminine body shape. The dresses generically reproduce the most stereotypical, current image of 'femininity', playing upon the strict categorisation a computer implies, and the way computers deal with a fine variety of genders. With Lepore’s unique shape, Flora gives the computer a model to learn with, while teaching it how clothing works.
Flora Miranda has teamed up with the Internet artist Signe Pierce who will perform in front of an informative keynote presentation composed by the Swiss artist Simone C. Niquille.

Flora Miranda is an Austrian fashion designer, based in Antwerp/Belgium. Throughout her work she explores physical border experiences that take place in a virtual or actual reality.

http://floramiranda.com

Photography courtesy: Laetitia Bica

Austrian Fashion Awards 2016

Austrian Fashion Awards 2016 during Take Festival in Vienna

For the 2016 edition of Austrian Fashion Awards I had the honor to receive invitation to take part in the jury panel together with Patricia Romatet, Rosario Morabito and Stavros Karelis.

At the awards ceremony all nominees and winners where given the stage to show their collections. Among them the audience was able to see wotk of the emerging Austrian designers such as Dimitrije Gojkovic, Roshi Porkar, Hvala Ilija and Sabinna.

Austrian Fashion Awards is an initiative by the Austrian Fashion Association.

Awards 

The Modepreis der Stadt Wien Award rewards innovative fashion design propositions supported by a strong understanding of the economical constraints of the fashion market. It aims to support the commercial development as well as the international visibility of young (up-and-coming) fashion labels. The award is a subsidy of EUR 10.000,- earmarked for the designer’s participation in an international trade fair, showroom or festival. During the Austrian Fashion Awards nominated and winning designers where given the stage to present their collections.
Shortlisted designers: DMMJK and Leopold Bossert.

The ’Modepreis des Bundeskanzleramts‘ rewards pioneering fashion design as well as provides a recognition and support for the work of emerging fashion designers. The nomination should be based on creative Excellency as well as acknowledge an evident potential for success in the fashion industry. It offers the designer the possibility to do a one-year scholarship at an international designer/label, supporting thus his first career steps in the international fashion scene. The awards includes an allocation of EUR 1.300, - per month in Europe or EUR 1.500, - per month outside of Europe.
Shortlisted designers: Marie A C Oberkönig and Raphael Caric

The “Outstanding Artist Award für experimentelles Modedesign (for Experimental Fashion Design)‘ is handed out to designers of the middle generation working in the areas of womenswear, menswear and mixed collections.
The proce is a subsidy of EUR 8.000,-

Winners:
Modepreis der Stadt Wien Award: Leopold Bossert 
Modepreis des Bundeskanzleramts: Marie A C Oberkönig
“Outstanding Artist Award für experimentelles Modedesign (for Experimental Fashion Design)‘: Flora Miranda

http://take-festival.com
http://www.austrianfashionassociation.at

Take a look at the Austrian Fashion Awards Fashion Show

Serbia Fashion Week S/S 2016

Ean Williams

Serbia Fashion Week, spring summer 2016 edition took place from November 10-16 in the charming city of Novi Sad in Serbia.
An extensive schedule staged 70 designers from all over the world making it one of the biggest fashion events in South East Europe. In general this approach of SFW to create an international gathering of designers makes it interesting to attend. This edition new collaborations have been signed, completing the list of 24 fashion week/events partners. Having said that one would expect that displayed designers are the best of the best. That is not always the case, however here I will focus more on the designers worth mentioning.
Looking back to exactly a year ago, when I attended for the first time it is more than evident to see that SFW has made huge steps and grown in many ways. Bigger venue, more designers and better designers, younger and more fashionable audience etc.
SFW opening party took place on Tuesday evening and it seems that I have missed one of the highlights. Titled 'Heroes', the stylist Srdjan Sveljo curated a collective show with many emerging designers from Serbia and the region. It is exactly the young generation of designers that should be staged because they represent the fresh ideas coming from Serbia, like designers Sonja Jocic, Ivana Murišić or Mona Lacko. Another highlight in the programme where the FDTC Fashion Design Talent Competition and EFDTC Fashion Design Talent Competition that showcased young designers from Serbia and abroad. Winning designer Ivana Mišić is invited to be part of FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016.

Ivana Mišić, winner FTDC 

International guest designers who showed interesting collections where the promising Greek designer Marios Karavasilis, Slovenian knitwear brand Draž, FASHIONCLASH representative Flora Miranda, and Maltese designer Ritienne Zammit. Renown Agatha Ruiz de la Prada from Spain provided the most joyous and colorful show on the closing night. Paris based designer Sandrine Philippe was the absolute highlight of this edition. She was awarded best International Designers.
Next to all the international names many Serbian designers where given the stage. Evening wear and gowns still seem to be the favorite thing for most of them. Several established Serbian designers presented more urban and casual ready-to-wear collections such as Boško Jakovljević, Bata Spasojević Individual and Mladen Milivojević Baron. These where the more memorable shows coming from local heroes of the fashion week.
It was nice to be in Novi Sad again. The organization team and the lovely volunteers made me feel very welcome.
Serbia Fashion Week is growing to become a relevant destinations in the fashion calendar, in the meantime I am curios to see what steps will be made.

Take a look at the picture report.

All images are by brankopopovicblog.

http://serbiafashionweek.com

Ivana Mišić, winner FTDC 

SFW venue

SFW fantastic team and many motivated volunteers 

Flora Miranda at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015

Meet Flora Miranda, one of the designers at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015. 

Flora was born and raised in Austria, had been experiencing art since her early years - her artistic roots shared the genes of creativity Her childhood and youth was filled with many artistic achievements, what resuletd in graduating at Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

"I presented not only the fashion collection _sidereal_ethereal_immatereal_ but also a piece of art: „Openinghours“, a huge velvet curtain that brings to discussion our sexuality and physical sense in the age of the Internet. These two works spring from my intense occupation with the human body and constant search for it´s different potentials. In the fashion collection I created a digital, immaterial, deathearted physique. In opposition to this I made the public search for sensuality within the digital dimension with the art piece. "



What does your collection try to communicate (what is about)?
The collection _sidereal_ethereal_immatereal_ is based on the phenomenon of quantum physics and tele transportation. I visualized how it would look like if a human body is pure information, how it would dissolve in its single particles to travel from a to b. Imagine you can just break up you physical borders, leave behind the heaviness of your physique. In a way that is actually what we possibly imagine death to be like, but here I did not work upon spirituality but the technological progress of our time.

Gender Exhibition - FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015

VERWEVEN 2015 by Nina Willems

Gender and Fashion

Curated exhibition at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015

Gender is the sociocultural identity that relates to a person’s biological sex. it is said that this identity is a performance, since there is not only one way to male or female. Gender is perceived as a spectrum nowadays. it’s a stirring topic that has also been very present in fashion this year due to fashion’s ability to reflect one’s mood, personality and identity to theworld.
FASHIONCLASH Festival takes a stand for gender diversity and individualism. the festival wants to raise awareness about the problems that occur when it comes to gender issues and how crucial public opinion about it can be. that’s why this exposition gathers artists that are also challenged to think about the different aspects of gender. they offer the viewer a new perspective by illustrating what gender means to them individually. For instance, the works address gender in other cultures, transgenderism, gender in history, gender in media, body expression, etcetera are exhibited. FASHIONCLASH Festival brings together these different works and visions and celebrates self expression and diversity.

Exhibition design and concept by Studio Stad

www.fashionclash.nl

all images by brankopopovicblog

Juliëtte Heijnen fashion performance in the exhibition space

VERWEVEN 2015 by Nina Willems

Mittelmoda The Fashion Award 2015

Sue Suh - 8CUFF

Mittelmoda The Fashion Award 2015

the 22nd edition of Mittelmoda Award took place under the roof of Fiera de Vicenza, within the international event Origin, Passion and Beliefs.
26 collections (both menswear and womenswear and complete with accessories) coming from all over the world where on the spotlight. Among the finalists and winners where some FASHIONCLASH Festival participants and one of my favorite emerging designers Peter Movrin who is currently taking MA course at Central Saint Martins.
Peter won the main award at Mittelmoda.


The Prizes:

ABSOLUTE PRIZES

Absolute Prize for the most experimental collection offered by Sistema Moda Italia & Lectra Italia (2.500 €) awarded to PETER MOVRIN, Central St. Martins­, UK

Absolute Prize for the most creative collection offered by Mittelmoda International Lab & Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana & Lectra Italia (2.500 €) awarded to KATRINA WAGSTER, Northumbria University, UK

Peter Movrin

SPECIAL PRIZES

Special Award LECTRA
for the collection most adherent to the Lectra mood among the creations of the students of the schools’ network which use the technologies created by this leading company Computer Lectra with licence for design awarded to LORENA L’INNOCENTE, Hochschule Fuer Kunste Bremen­, Germany

Special Award LEATHER
Promoted and Offered by Origin, Passion & Beliefs for the most special collection in the use of Leather (1.000 €) awarded to JUN WOO NAM, Istituto Secoli, Italy

Special Award STONE
Promoted and Offered by Origin, Passion & Beliefs for the best collection of Jewellery Design (1.000 €) awarded to DANIELE DESIATI, Accademia Sitam, Italy

Special Award TEXTILE
Promoted and Offered by Origin, Passion & Beliefs for the most innovative and experimental collection in the aesthetics, functionality and making of the Textiles (1.000 €) awarded to MADELEINE COISNE, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium

Flora Miranda

Special Award TECHNOLOGY – ex-aequo
Promoted and Offered by Origin, Passion & Beliefs for the most technological collection in the concept and/or in the applications (1.000 €) ex-aequo awarded to LAI WA YUEN, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia and FLORA MIRANDA, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium

Special Award EMBROIDERY
for the most courageous and refined proposal showing accurate research on fabrics, leather, embroidery and applications – Internship at Matilda Ricami company, awarded to ANA LUISA BARROS, Universidade Fumec , Brazil

Special Award Knitwear BENETTON
Promoted and Offered by Benetton Group for the best knitwear collection (1.000 €) awarded to ANTTI PELTONIEMI, Aalto University, Finnland

More than 700 schools and colleges of Art & Design spread in over 55 nations – belonging to the wide network of contacts that Mittelmoda International Lab has been creating in over 22 years of activity – have acclaimed enthusiastically the call of the new edition of the contest, conferming its role of priviledge observatory on the international creativity, which has been developed also thanks to the institutional partners, among which Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Fondazione Industrie Cotone Lino, Sistema Moda Italia, and the main sponsor Lectra.

http://mittelmoda.com

FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015 - Participants

Rafael Kouto

FASHIONCLASH Festival announces participants for 2015 edition

The 7th edition of the international and interdisciplinary FASHIONCLASH Festival,  takes place on June 11th – 14th in Maastricht.

The 4-day festival program complete with fashion shows showcasing upcoming creative talent, exhibitions, fashion film, theatre and dance performances, lectures, workshops and a dynamic Side Program, gives promising young professionals from across the globe the opportunity to present their work to a diverse international audience and industry professionals. The 7th edition of the festival will showcase more than 100 talents from all over the world.
Curious to see who will be on display during the festival have a look at selection of designers and artists: participants.
FASHIONCLASH Festival is accessible for everyone. Admission for the exhibition, designer market and most of the Side Program is free. To attend the runway program one can buy ticket.

Program at SAMdecorfabriek 12 – 14 June

A Fashion Show schedule where emerging designers and graduating students of MAFAD (Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design) will show their sublime collections. The line-up of designers represents a broad range of design aesthetics and features up-and-coming names like Flora Miranda (Belgium), Odio x Pieczarkowski (Poland), Wilfried Lantoine (France), Inês Duvale (Portugal), Rafael Kouto (Switzerland), Blank Etiquette (Germany), Judith van Vliet x Chris van den Elzen (Netherlands) and many more. The catwalk will also function as a stage for several performances that will take place as well as an Award ceremony on the last day of the festival.

Wilfried Lantoine

Sofie van Aelbroeck

The fashion shows are complemented by an multidisciplinary Exhibition where a selection of creative work curated around the theme of gender will be exhibited. The former interior design factory of Mosa will temporarily be transformed into an innovative museum, where the selected art works relay the different visions of gender in various ways. Think among others photography, illustration, clothing, video, object and shoe design. In the exhibition you can find work by Gabriel Annmaher, Camiel Fortgens and Sofie van Aelbroeck.
VERWEVEN 2015, a performance project created by theatre performer Nina Willems, will yet again be one of the highlights of the exhibition.
You'll also be able to visit the CLASH Project, one of the core projects of the festival, in the exhibition area. It places its focus on the connection between disciplines and visions. In other words it embodies the interdisciplinary spirit FASHIONCLASH tries to propagate. Each year ten non-fashion designers are invited to share their vision according to their artistic discipline in relation to fashion. Ultimately this leads to a 'clash' of philosophical, cultural and practical methodologies. As a result a new hybrid discipline takes form. For more information or an overview of the participating artists go to → http://fashionclash.nl/clash-project-2015/

Sciumè Accessori

The 'designer' Market completes the Festival programme at the main venue. This is a great opportunity for the audience to personally meet the designers/ Consisting of stands and showrooms, thirty young brands will have the opportunity to present and sell their designs. This is a great opportunity for the audience to personally meet the designers and to actually buy their unique clothing, jewellery and accessories. You can discover here brands and designers like Acephala, Bleuberries, Delacier, ONE WOLF, Sofya Samareva, Sciume, Mies Nobis and many more.

FASHIONCLASH Side Program, at various location in Maastricht 11–14 June

The FASHIONCLASH Side Program is an accompanying schedule taking place at various locations in Maastricht city centre. As the catwalk shows are scheduled to start in the late afternoon, our captivating side programme will arouse your attention in the morning and prickle your senses in the early afternoon.
The 'de Bijenkorf', a luxury department store, will host the captivating Showpieces exhibition.
Showpieces is an multidisciplinary exciting new feature to the festival that shows striking standout pieces showpieces such as a dress by Santiago Úttima, shoes by Simonetta Alejandra or jewelry by Inderjeet Sandhu.

Simonetta Alejandra 

Bonnefantenmuseum will exhibit a series of historical silhouettes, courtesy of the MMH Fashion Museum in Hasselt, that represent and typify gender. Bureau Europa will host the 'Meet the Maker' exhibition where you'll have the opportunity to meet the artists themselves.

Blank Etiquette 

At the Museum aan het Vrijthof you can visit MIJNshop/MIJNcollectie expo but also installations by Malou Beemer, Studio IKKAI and Lisa Schamlé. Furthermore we seduce you to engage in the 'fashion & gender' dialogue with the 'Fashion Talk' at Centre Céramique, also the venue for our latest incubating project, 'Meet the Industry', where the upcoming talents showcasing during the FCF Festival will have a chance to meet industry professionals. Lumière Cinema will host 'Fashion Film Night Out' where you'll be able to watch short fashion films.
And if that isn't enough, there'll be several exhibitions located at must-see stores such as PL-Line, Stijl, Conflict, Festen, Noir, Le Marais Deux & Koffie and Mayfair.

GENDER Edition, celebration of diversity and self-expression
FASHIONCLASH believes that fashion as an art form can stimulate critical debate about current controversial issues which are discussed in society. This year's overarching theme during the FC Festival is GENDER. This theme shapes the overall festival but is mostly visible in the exhibition area and in the performances. FASHIONCLASH would therefore like to invite you to celebrate the diversity of humanity and stimulate them to express their true self, whether that be lesbian, gay, bi or transgender, as provocateurs or conformists. We believe clothing is a way to express identity. An autonomous identity an individual has the right and freedom to build. From this perspective the art of fashion has an important empowering function, it can aid us to accept those that are different. This has led us to imagine a world without gender. A world where all restrictive boundaries regarding gender roles and identities don't exist. Is this a possible reality?

www.fashionclash.nl