Young Fashion Photographers Now - Lodz / Poland

The 'Young Fashion Photographers Now' exhibition traditionally accompanies each edition of off outofschedule. It aims to present the works of young photographers and trends in fashion photography.
I really liked this part of Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland program that shows that fashion photography is as emerging as fashion design in Poland.
Have a look at some stunning images by Aga Stodolska, Michał Polak, and the rest.

Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland Showroom

Dud-zin-ska http://dud-zin-ska.com/

Here is an impression of teh Showroom and Concept Store program at Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland. I discoverd several nice labels out there and I even got my self a shirt by Aloha From Dear.

MMC Studio Design at Fashion Philosophy Week Poland

MMC design studio is one of the key fashion brands in Poland. The label founders are Ilona Majer and Rafał Michalak. They gave a quite big show which was devided in two parts in the presentation. Day before the show I have visited their installation during the international fashion conference that was held in Andel's Hotel. The collection is a fresh mixture of girly silhouettes and sportswear chique.  They were also invited to present the collection during ModaLisboa
http://mmcstudio.pl/

Maldoror SS2013

Grzegorz Matląg is the creative mind behind this avant-garde label. He presented his latest collection during Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland last weekend.
Moldoror ss 2013 is a mixed collection with womenswear and menswear. Loads of attention went to presentation of the collection which made it not that easy to take a closer look to the clothing. Based on silhouettes I favour the menswear pieces.
http://www.maldoror.pl/

Piotr Drzał SS2013 Fashion Week Poland

Piotr Drzał presented a mixed (menswear and womenswear collection) at Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland last weekend. Wearable pieces are presented in combination with edgy styling. The collection is based on a mixture of sportswear and casual clothing. This was one of the most fresh and energetic shows.
 http://www.piotrdrzal.com/

AGATA WOJTKIEWICZ SS2013

Agata Wojtkiewicz presented her collection during Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland last weekend.
I got a chance to see the collection's lovely detail at Andel's Hotel during the international conference.
http://www.agatawojtkiewicz.pl/

Mads Dinesen at Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland

By far, the best collection at Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland last weekend, came from Mads Dinesen. He was invited to show his collection on behalf of Not Just A Label platform.
http://www.madsdinesen.com/

Kamila Gawronska-Kasperska SS 2013 MIMESIS

Kamila Gawronska-Kasperska was one of the labels  that I actually knew at Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland because she took part at FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2012.  Kamila Gawronska-Kasperska presented MIMESIS ss 2013 collection that premiered at FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2012 in June. This was one of the stronger collections at Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland. FASHIONCLASH team was proud!
http://kamilagawronska.com/

Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland 2012

Poland was one of those countries on my wish list and there I was last weekend. Together with FASHIONCLASH I was invited to attend the international conference that was organized in connection to Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland in Łódź.
The conference was held in the amazing Andel's Hotel in Łódź that is located in the Manufactura neighbourhood, a huge former industrial complex. Andel's hotel is really worth a visit, it is actually one of the best hotel's I have ever stayed in. The opening of the Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland also took place  at the Andel's hotel on Thursday 24th.
City of Lodz used to be the capital for Polish textile industry until the major factories closed in the 90's. In recent years the city is recovering with great initiatives like the Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland, Łódź design festival and the impressive Manufactura. Now Łódź is the place to be and is the avant-garde cultural capital of Poland.

Andel's Hotel

Yes, Polish fashion is emerging, there is room for improvement but there is loads of potential in Polish fashion scene. The international conference 'Promotion of Polish Fashion Industry on the International Market' gave more insight in the general development and possibilities of the Polish fashion industry.
In recent years I have noticed that Polish fashion scene is emerging and now that I was there I've experienced it.
Each year FASHIONCLASH receives strong applications from Polish designers and it was a pleasure to see some of them in the program. FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2012 participants Kamila Gawronska-Kasperska and Agnieszka Natasza Splewińska showed their collections.

The schedule offers a broad and rather full program with shows from established and 'celebrities' designers, emerging talents, Out off schedule program, showrooms, young fashion photographers exhibition and parties.
Most collections on the catwalk were wearable and not that interesting, the best collections were from emerging designers and graduates of Łódź Art Academy ASP. My personal favorite above all was the collection of Mads Dinesen, who showed on behalf of Not Just A Label.
It seemed that he general attention went more to established designers while the young designers really stole the show.
The showroom was bit messy but nevertheless I found some very nice young labels like She's a Riot, Aloha From Dear and Dudzińska (also former FASHIONCLASH participant).
At last I have to mention and thank the initiators of the conference and the fashion week for the warm hospitality and good organization. It could not have been a better occasion to visit Poland than to attend this conference and Fashion Week in Łódź.

FASHIONCLASH Team

I hope that I will be invited again and witness the growth of Polish fashion scene.
More info: http://www.fashionweek.pl/

MODEBELOFTE 2012

MODEBELOFTE 2012 at De Krabbedans in Eindhoven presents its 6th edition in a surreal Camera Obscura world of Niek Pulles: ‘Portal to a new World… enter the funnel’.

Fashion consultant and talent scout Carlo Wijnands, Member of the Advisory Board of the Amsterdam Fashion Week, selected the most promising talent from various graduation shows of Dutch and Flemish academies. Result is a broad and innovative overview of fashion debutants.
 Presented in the exceptional setting designed by Niek Pulles (HEYNIEK), MODEBELOFTE 2012 at the Krabbedans is a must for both fashion professionals as fashion lovers.
Selected designers represent the best from academies: KABK Den Haag, ArtEZ Arnhem, WdKA Rotterdam, Gerrit Rietveld Academie Amsterdam, FIA Arnhem Fashion Masters, ABK Maastricht, AMFI Amsterdam and Artesis Antwerp.

Designers: Yohji van der Aa, Miquel Boutens, Esther Kruyer, Josine Heuts, Yvonne Kwok, Jef Montes, David Laport, Bao Yao Fei, Djinn Zijp, Poul Brouwer, Gijsje Ribbens, Robis Seidran Koopmans, Eefje Wijnings, Sabine Staartjes, Yoram Tomasowa, Tess van Zalinge, Charlotte Greeven, Sanne Smits, Matthias Louwen and Morta Griskeviciute.

MODEBELOFTE is part of Dutch Design Week program.

Brussels Fashion Days 2012

Brussels Fashion Days Exhibition

Brussels Fashion Days 2012

The atmosphere was buzzing with expectations, fashion lovers and professionals took place in the tribunes and as the lights went out, a unanimous feeling of excitement filled the room. The spots slowly went on again and shone a light on a contemporary silhouette. Indie beats accompanying a model strutting down the runway. The biggest Belgian fashion event had just kicked off.



The first Brussels Fashion Days in the history of Belgium took place in a 10 000m² space, as dedicated to fashion as it’s visitors. For three consecutive days the organization transformed the site into an enormous design Walhalla with more then 50 designers, various photo exhibitions (by Luc Praet & Serge Leblon), a big pop-up clothing expo & 4 catwalk shows. Belgian talent, easy to be discovered by an international audience of connaisseurs. For every visitor, there was something to love.



left: OMSK  / right: Sandrina Fasoli

Arto Mangelschots wearing Romain Brau

The shows itself were kind of vanilla. Serving up the codes of established fashion houses. Simple & wearable were the key words. Commercial pieces that were exquisitely made but lacked in innovation. The real lookers weren’t on the catwalk, they were watching it. Personal favorites were Romain Brau (fashion rebel avant la lettre and owner of RA Antwerp & Paris, two avant-garde clothingstores) and Jean Paul Knott (who stunned with designs reminiscent of comme des garcons).

The exhibition made up for everything the shows lacked, showcasing up-and-coming Belgian talent. (the works of Arma Cutis, Céline Lellouche and Marjorie Vermeulen definitely struck a cord with me) There were only names to remember and none to forget. With an accessory & clothing expo and various photo expositions, they presented a real panorama of Belgian design. A fashion forward scene, eager to take risks, armored with creativity. Brussels is booming. And knows how to throw a killer afterparty.

Text & editing: Jordi Nicolas Arias
Pictures by Fatih M. Kaynak

http://www.brusselsfashiondays.be/

Between dream & debt. - crisis in the fashion industry

image: Javier Barcala

Report on debate initiated in connection to High Fashion Low Countries project:

 ‘Between dream & debt. : crisis in the fashion industry’


Participans:
 • Rachid Naas (fashion producer)
 • Liesbeth in ’t Hout (Dutch Fashion Council, ex-director AMFI),
 • Raïssa Verhaeghe (ex-financial advisor Raf Simons)
 • Anne Zellien (Anne Zellien Jewelry)

   Directed by fashion journalist: Veerle Windels.

   Organization: deBuren i.s.m. Villanella / DE Studio

   Location: DeBuren, Antwerpen







Report & text by Jordi Nicolas Arias

The tough questions of the evening were: ‘Which effect does the financial crisis have on the fashion industry and what are possible solutions/alternatives to cope with these undesirable changes?’

First and foremost, it’s broadly known that the fashion industry is in a bit of a pickle; investors are coy (getting financial support is as hard as getting anna’s approval) and all-round sales are decreasing. Much like the spirits of young designers. Yet the real problem the industry is encountering nowadays is it’s own predictability and carefulness. Something that was evident throughout the debate. (which was being held by a nicely composed posse of 3 fashion professionals and 1 acclaimed designer)

Portuguese fashion designers

Daniela Barros

After the big 4 it seems like there are fashion weeks all over the world this month. I did some research on Lisbon fashion week 'ModaLisboa Pulse' and Portugal Fashion Week and found some stunning collections for spring summer 2013.
Starting off with some names that I knew like Daniela Barros and Valentim Quaresma, former FASHIONCLASH Maastricht participants. They delivered again amazing work.
As we share the same roots (former Yugoslavia), I was familiar with Aleksander Protic and Lidija Kolovrat.
Beside these names there are many new names to me like Ricardo Dourado, V!tor, Ricardo Andrez, Dino Alves, Aleksandra Moura, etc.

I would love to attend the ModaLisboa & Portugal Fashion Week in the future because it seems like Portugese fashion scene is one with loads of potential.

Credits ModaLisboa  / Photography Rui Vasco 

http://www.modalisboa.pt/

Lidija Kolovrat SS2013 at ModaLisboa

Lidija Kolovrat, one of the designers that showed her collection at ModaLisboa this October.
Lidija Kolovrat was born in 1962 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She studied cinema and fashion at the Design and Technology College also in Zagreb, Croatia.
In 1990 she moved to Portugal where she is recognised as a prominent artist and regularly shows video art and installations in galleries and museums.
Her extensive body of work includes costume design for the theatre, opera and contemporary dance among other performing arts. In her interdisciplinary research work and involvement with design, Lidija opened Kolovrat Lab, an art space that was to operate for 15 years as a platform for het to develop her own work in fashion, which is presented by ModaLisboa during the Lisbon Fashion Week.

Credits: ModaLisboa | photography Rui Vasco

http://www.lidijakolovrat.org/

Paraphrasing Babel

Last night I attended the opening of a brand new exhibition by Viewmaster foundation 'Paraphrasing Babel'.
As you may remember I also reported about the previous exhibitions, Body Talks in 2011 and For Real in 2010. This time the video installations and projections are showcased in public space in Maastricht and in Heerlen.
The evening started with a bus tour from Maastricht to Heerlen, where the official opening took place.
Here you can take a look at some impressions but I recommend you to take a walk in Maastricht and Heerlen and enjoy the full experience of Paraphrasing Babel. The exhibition is open until November 18th ( every evening 6 pm - 23 pm).
http://www.paraphrasing-babel.eu/

Paraphrasing Babel is a multidisciplinary exhibition with video projections, video installations, moving graphic structures and sound artworks in the public space of the cities of Heerlen and Maastricht - two urban centres with a very diverse feel in a border region where different languages and dialects are spoken and different cultures meet. The 35 projections and ‘soundscapes’ have rarely been shown outside the confines of museums or art institutes. Their specific contents make these pieces perfect for showing in the (semi-)public domain. After all, it is on the street where different languages meet or blend and where the media and commerce are directly addressing the public. In these surroundings, the artworks engage in a direct relationship with the onlooker or passer-by and reach the public in an alternative form.