Supertrash

Olcay Gulsen is the Dutch-Kurdish owner of international brand Supertrash.

Originally designed in LA, Supertrash is quickly taking over the world and facilitates all possible media channels while doing so; Olcay has launched a brand magazine, personally writes daily blogs about her jetset lifestyle and was the spotlight at the end of her show this Amsterdam Fashion Week; Olcay is basically the living, breathing embodiment of Supertrash.

The brand is hardly trash though. The autumn/winter collection consisted out of clinging silk mini-dresses, sequinned leggings, pointy shoulder pads and spiky heels in an array of shades varying from autumn leaves to black and gold. There didn't seem that much would keep you warm on a winter-evening, but dressed in a Supertrash-outfit, I doubt any shoulders would be left bare, with plenty of men willing to loan you their jackets.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

Camilla Norrback

Camilla Norrback is a Swedish fashion designer who has 'trademarked' the term EcoLuxury. Camilla believes that the superficiality of luxury, which was only about the 'outside' is now a more overall appellation; "A garment of the highest quality that is justly manufactured as well has an entirely new dimension - the wearer can feel both beautiful and proud".

Camilla was unfortunately unable to be at her show in Amsterdam; she's heavily pregnant, congratulations Camilla!

Her autumn/winter collection 2010 fulfilled all expectations of understated Swedish style. It was simple, smart and practical. The men were dressed in classic turn-up pants and thick chunky cardigans (with squirrel patterns) and the women were demure and desirable in pretty dresses and paisley.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Sacha Golden Heel Award

Each year fashion brand Sacha gives students from the Fashion Institute Arnhem the opportunity to design a shoe, with no commercial restrictions, in their manner of cultivating young talent.

This year's lucky winner was Pauline van Dongen, with her skyscraper wedge 'Vertigo' as show above.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Mada van Gaans

Dutch fashion designer Mada van Gaans has a real name for herself in Dutch fashion and her flowing and feminine designs are always adhered by the fashion-elite.

It was therefore not a real surprise that her show was packed-out, with even the occasional designer stuck on the fifth row. Mada's show started with a beautiful 'nude'-tone dress and progressed through an array of creams, beiges and peaches to a deep plum, raspberry and black.

The beautiful flow of colours was also present in her shapes and tailoring, which varied between voluminous and sheer, to composed knits and highwaist woolen skirts and pants. Although her more enigmatic designs were stunning, I found her 'simple' black dresses most desirable, you can never have enough perfect black dresses!

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Quoc Thang

Last season, Quoc Thang debuted his maritime-inspired collection at the Waag society, a historic navy building in Amsterdam. This season, Quoc continued the theme in Quoc-fashion; wearable and weather-proof men's wear.

Where his luminous constellation-prints left me starry-eyed before, it was his more blatant 'longing' and 'desire', which caught my eye this time. Girlfriend's golden tresses were physicallly entwined into their lover's storm-breaker jackets in true sailor style 'carrying their loved ones with them out at sea'.

Quoc's collection was a clear continuation with sturdy wintercoats, plaid overalls and woollen tunics in shades of beige and navy. Also striking was a large check-print, which Quoc beautifully explained to "capture the shimmer of the starry nights within his love for checks".

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Individuals

The Amsterdam Fashion Institute is one of the few fashion academies in the world, known for its aptness towards the actual requirements of the fashion industry. With its fashion brand Individuals, this is underlined each season as a new group of students create a collection.

Individuals showcased a sophisticated, elegant 30's-like collection with thigh-highs, red lips and smart tailoring. Although each participating student was allowed to portray his/her talents in the collection, this was hardly noticeable and the whole was a unifed and complete look.

Surprisingly elegant for student designs, I'm sure every woman in the audience pursues the elegant, Parisian chique looks that Individuals portrayed.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Malousebastiaan

Malousebastiaan are the darling design duo from the Hogeschool van Kunsten in Utrecht. Their previous collection 'hand-died, hand-made' reflected beautiful skies in the Netherlands in hues of pink and purple. This collection also carries their natural starting point with hand-dyed materials, inspired from Malou and Ferdinand's (2nd name Sebastiaan) home region; the green and leafy Veluwe.

Not immediately apparent to the unknowing, is the depth of Malousebastiaan's concepts; this collection used a cube-shape, and in addition to the clearly visible cubes adorned on the garments, Malou told me that total looks were completely constructed out of cube-patterns.

Malou: "The green leather dress is completely made out of cubes, and the orange dress is made out of one 10 meter long piece of fabric".

Besides being multi-experiential, conceptual designers (which is also apparent on their website), Malousebastiaan are also fashion entrepreneurs.

Malou: "This was our show-collection, it visualises our concept and vision. We have an adaptation of this available for retail."

As well as following the duo online, you will soon be able to visit their concept store in Arnhem. I can't wait!

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT