AIFW insider

100% pur amour: Club Brilliant | L'Agency fall 2011

2011-02-01T09:56:00.006+01:00

Yesterday evening Club Brilliant ft. L’Agency presented their fashionable and stunning fall 2011 collection in the closing show of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

Sunglasses from Club Brilliant to wow about and boots, skirts, dresses and jackets from L’Agency to die for.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Anne Haakmeester
Photos: So PR

Visitors @ Supertrash afterparty

2011-01-31T11:09:00.004+01:00

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Fourties glamour @ Hunkemöller

2011-01-30T21:36:00.000+01:00

Hunkemöller was inspired by the fourties for the It's a women's world an we love it! show during Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

We saw five different looks on the runway: Hollywood Glamour, Hot Cognac, Excentric Luxury, Mysterious Black and Bronze Beauty - which was a preview of the Christmas collection of 2011.

Click here for the complete article and photo's/video's!

Text: Styletoday.nl

Backstage AIFW

2011-01-30T21:14:00.006+01:00

This week we saw the greatest shows, but what happend backstage? We give a quick impression...

Pictures: Styletoday

Fashion People day 4

2011-01-30T20:44:00.008+01:00

Merle Deterink wearing Supertrash

Bacardi wall Stephanie Floor wearing Supertrash

Pictures: Lisa Goudsmit

Elsien Gringhuis: ONE OF THESE DAYS

2011-01-30T18:12:00.000+01:00

The collection for 2011-2012 is already the fourth collection for designer Elsien Gringhuis.

Earlier this week Elsien also won The Green Fashion Competition with a prize off 25 000 euro.

Elsien Gringhuis was inspired by the Dutch country, with the flat landscapes and windy weather.

Read the complete article

Text: Styletoday.nl

Photo: Peter Stigter

Escapism @ Ready to Fish

2011-01-30T14:43:00.004+01:00

Dutch designer Ilja Visser decided to show the new collection of her brand Ready to Fish in a theatre next to the regular venue of AIFW. Her Escapism fashion show promised to ‘take us to an imaginary world’, and it definitely did…

When entering the building, it immediately became clear that this was true fashion circus: there was a fortuneteller, gymnasts, a guy on stilts and girls in Burlesque-like circus outfits handing out cotton candy and cocktails. The collection itself was presented in the theatre where the models entered the stage, decorated with red balls, a swing and a trampoline, in beautiful, feminine and cool outfits: typical Ilja Visser.

Lots of black and grey garments, but also burgundy and faded turquoise with a subtle glitter-detail created a classic winter look. The French circus music, models with huge hairdo’s and decorative make-up completed the show. We want more!

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text & images by Lisa Goudsmit – lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

Swedish chique Velour @ AIFW

2011-01-30T12:14:00.007+01:00

There’s a new kid in AIFW-town: Velour. This Swedish brand is casual classy and therefore typical Scandinavian. Velour is a young label; they only launched their first collection in 2005, though their interesting history goes further back in time. Founder Per Andersson started in 1997 by selling old garments from his grandmother’s store that closed in the mid eighties. He called his shop ‘Nostalgia’; it became a great success in Goteburg. Nostalgia’s creative customers inspired Andersson to start designing his own clothes in 2002 and three years later, Velour was born.

Now they show at Amsterdam International Fashion Week where the gathered crowd saw a very versatile and cute winter collection, for both men and women. There were great basics for men like the classic khaki pants, beautiful cardigans and jackets with leather shoulders and arm patches, bodywarmers and chequered blouses. There were also wonderful basics for women, but the female collection showed some nice surprising effortlessly chique pieces as well, like a shiny black catsuit, cute blue printed skirts, a subtle sexy see-through blouse and button-down dresses.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text by Lisa Goudsmit - lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

Fashionshow Supertrash in packed Gashouder

2011-01-30T11:51:00.005+01:00

Olcay Gulsen presented her new collection of her label Supertrash in a packed Westergasfabriek. The show was one of the highlights of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week. Nearly two thousand fashionlovers attended the show of Gulsen.

The fashionshow began with a black and white movie, but fast after that pounding house music was going trough the room. Models with large ponytails and green eyeshadow thundered rapidly on the catwalk.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Fashion people @ Tony Cohen

2011-01-30T10:56:00.000+01:00

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ROPAROSA: the day after

2011-01-29T15:25:00.000+01:00

On Thursday morning the show of her label ROPAROSA was the official kickoff of the First day of Fashion Week. How is Roos van der Kamp, the day after, when the rush and adrenaline of her well-received show are gone? ,,I’m tired but very happy with the result”.

What was the concept of your collection?
,,Come As You Are is about your own strength and power. All lines in the collection came from the middle of the body and formed as it were a shining star. To believe in your own strength and stay truly to who you really are while they outside world wants all kind of things from you was the idea behind it.

Did everything went well?
,,Most worries I had were about the moment of changing. Last year I showed twenty outfits, so I had twenty models. That wasn’t allowed this time, but luckily everything went very smoothly. In addition we planned to show some outfits with bare legs, but that didn’t work. I was very happy to score a pair of tights somewhere.”

Read the complete article

Text Simone Lautenbach http://modemaniak.blogspot.com

Addy van den Krommenacker: Jungle Book Deluxe

2011-01-29T11:57:00.006+01:00

If there was one show this Amsterdam Fashion Week everybody wanted to see, it was the Addy van den Krommenacker show. Last night he showed in a packed hall his new collection. A Show with a capital S. There seemed to be no end, in positive terms, because every time you thought you had seen the last dress another one came around the corner.

Army, jungle and floral prints, prints of trees, glitter and sequins, but also al lot of gold. Van den Krommenacker sent an innovative new collection on the catwalk. ,,I am well known for my use of pink, red and other bright colours. But this time I came across green. I found this beautiful fabric and my first thought was: ‘this is not my colour’. But then it became a challenge to me just to be inspired by this colour.”

Click here for the complete article

Presented by ABN AMRO
Text Simone Lautenbach http://modemaniak.blogspot.com
Credits: Peter Stigter

AIFW gallery

2011-01-29T11:13:00.000+01:00

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Fifth PaP collection by Monique Collignon

2011-01-29T00:55:00.001+01:00

Monique Collignon showed this night her fifth PaP collection from MC by Monique Collignon for autumn/winter 2011. She used a lot of satin, leather, cotton and mohair fabrics for the items.

The Dutch designer didn't work with lots of colours; only black, white, grey and deep purple were seen on the catwalk.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Presented by ABN AMRO
Text: Styletoday

Sage and Ivy @ Felix Meritis

2011-01-28T21:42:00.011+01:00

The lovely thing about the Downtown schedule of Aifw is the variation of locations that are chosen by a wide range of designers to show their new collections. Young label Sage and Ivy of Dutch designer Alexia van Engelen showed at Felix Meritis today: a beautifulclassic building on the canals in Amsterdam. The surroundings responded perfectly with the winter 2011/2012 collection of Sage and Ivy that was absolutely gracious and intelligent.

This collection, called My Beating Heart, was inspired by St. Petersburg: a city in which French culture and Russian folklore melt together. Beautiful classy garments in
luxurious fabrics create a feminine, strong and subtle sexy look. Amazing!

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text and photos: Lisa Goudsmit - lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

AIFW impressions

2011-01-28T21:33:00.001+01:00

Pictures: Styletoday.nl

Marloes Blaas Fall/Winter 2011: A women's merit

2011-01-28T21:14:00.003+01:00

Independent and elegant looking women paraded down the catwalk during the show of .MarloesBlaas. this afternoon. With ther Fall/Winter 2011 collection ‘A women’s merit’ Marloes links back to the fifties were women started to stand up for their rights and emancipate.

Soft knits, leather jumpsuits, high waisted skirts and tough boots combined with army green clothes and bags represented the collection of Marloes Blaas.

All pieces you’ll want to adopt for your own wardrobe.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Pictures: Peter Stigter
Text: Mirjam de Ruiter

Crème Fresh: young talent

2011-01-28T14:07:00.004+01:00

Fashion Week Thursday can be called the day of the young, upcoming designers. There were shows of Roparosa, Bravoure, The Green Fashion Competition, Individuals by AMFI, Marije de Haan and in Trouw the young talents ended the day. Under the name Crème Fresh designers Lotte van Keulen, Elise Kim and Ellis Biemans gave a show together.

Although the distance between the Trouw building on Wibautstraat and the main area of Fashion Week is many kilometers, people could find their way over there and so the interest was huge. Three rows of seats with behind them three rows of fashion minded people were lined next to the catwalk. About a quarter to eight Lotte van Keulen kicked off the show with her collection Assemblage.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text and photography: Simone Lautenbach - http://modemaniak.blogspot.com/

Gomes Esser Design & Musa Shah

2011-01-28T13:34:00.000+01:00

Meet Denise Esser and Aleyda Gomes from Gomes Esser Design and Musa Shah. On Thursday-night all three young designers made their first steps in the big world of Dutch fashion on the runway and it won’t be their last steps for sure.

Futuristic meets elegance by Gomes Esser Design and soberness meets luxury by menswear designer Musa Shah.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Anne Haakmeester

Lhana Marlet/Marije de Haan LAB show

2011-01-28T11:39:00.009+01:00

Young fashion talents Marije de Haan and Lhana Marlet presented their fall/winter collections together for the first time this fashion week. A wonderful combination of comfortable and luxurious garments Flatliners 2.0 by Marije passed the catwalk on both women and man. Every outfit was very wearable and with an androgenic touch. Marije has an eye for great quality fabrics with a reference to twenties work clothes.

Lhana Marlet, on the other hand, used a lot of prints in her collection Eva’s Apple, inspired by her mother, which is also a designer. Different tree and leaf patterns were printed on tight transparent leggings and feminine shaped outfits. As an ex-intern of Alexander McQueen, you can tell that Lhana has a lot of attention to detail.

These two young talents are once to watch in the near future.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Mirjam de Ruiter - http://www.mirjamderuiter.com/
Photo’s: Chelsea Syrett

The Green Fashion Competition

2011-01-28T10:40:00.003+01:00

Yesterday The Green Fashion Competition came to an end with a spectacular award show. Eight different designers gathered with their two models to present their ideas of sustainable fashion to the jury. A jury that consisted of: Georgette Koning, Tony Tonnaer, Manolo Marquez, Wijnand Broer and Paul Vetter from the Dutch ministery of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

OpportunityAfter a wonderful show, designers OAT (2nd price) and Elsien Gringhuis (1st price) left a real check which gives the designers the opportunity to set up their actual plans of creating this sustainable fashion line into reality.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Mirjam de Ruiter - http://www.mirjamderuiter.com/

Photography: Michiel Langbroek / Chelsea Syrett

Bas Kosters suprised with creative show

2011-01-28T10:28:00.004+01:00

Bas Kosters Friday surprised the audience of Amsterdam Fashion Week with a striking catwalk show.

The final part of the show consisted of a dance performance of models wearing the clothes of the designer. Bass sang along and accompanied the models on the catwalk.

The show was presented by Grazia

Click here for the complete article and photos

Samira Algoe & Roya Hesam @ LAB

2011-01-28T10:19:00.005+01:00

In LAB, Amsterdam International Fashion Week gives promising young designers a chance to show their collections to a fashion loving crowd. Today a double show by two designers: Samira Algoe and Roya Hesam.

Samira Algoe graduated from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute in 2010 and is now already showing at an official AIFW venue. ZEM by Samira Algoe presents a cool menswear collection with an interesting new silhouette and exciting color combinations. Innovative material combinations like denim, rubber-like fabrics, wool, leather and plastic details in pale and natural nudes with colorful elements, create a minimalist yet futuristic look.

Roya Hesam, also an AMFI-graduate, already won the International Award at London’s Fashion Week in 2010: definitely one of Holland’s most promising designers. Her women collection is absolutely stunning! Like her previous collection, this one also shows beautiful feminine garments in soft colors. Roya uses a lot of satin, silk and transparent fabrics to create a wonderful soft yet powerful look.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Lisa Goudsmit - lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

Individuals A/W 2011; La petite mort

2011-01-28T10:06:00.002+01:00

For the upcoming winter season the innovative brand Individuals presented a dark yet inspiring collection; La Petite Mort. A collection adopted from the feeling of breaking borders, adrenaline that rushes through the body, creating an astonishing atmosphere.

Mysterious

The tenth collection by Individuals includes many contrasts; loose silhouettes made from flowy fabrics link to a certain feeling of freedom, whilst strong shapes, tight leather leg chaps and bronze coloured corsets give a feeling of restriction and control. Also the colour palette for this Autumn/Winter collection is nothing but mysterious; dark red, shades of black, orange and bronze give a rich feeling to the look of the clothing.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Mirjam de Ruiter www.mirjamderuiter.com

Fast ladies at Spijkers en Spijkers

2011-01-27T22:28:00.005+01:00

Twin sisters Spijkers en Spijkers showed an exciting and fast collection during the Thursday evening at Amsterdam International Fashion Week. The duo showed their second SIS by Spijkers en Spijkers collection, called Fast Ladies.

The blonde sisters were inspired by ladies in the twenties who’d like to take risks, like women in racecars and in airplanes. One of the major sources of inspiration was Aurelia Earhart, the first women who flew over the Atlantic back in 1932.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Bravoure: Pocahontas goes chic

2011-01-27T16:57:00.002+01:00

Patricia and Kim proved that Indians are not always the most colourful people with their Bravoure show this morning.

Pocahontas goes chic was the credo and it was all black, black, and black only that came down the runway.

All the outfits were styled with coloured beads and buttons. Absolute showpieces were the feather headdresses.

Click here for the complete article and photo's

Text: Simone Lautenbach - modemaniak.blogspot.com

Roparosa: Sporty chic

2011-01-27T16:14:00.007+01:00

Burgundy, black, nude and turquoise. Those were the colours used at this morning’s Roparosa show. Designer Roos van der Kamp sent models in tight leggings, harem pants, short skirts and dressy blouses on the runway.

The latest collection of Roparosa can be described as sporty chic. Something that’s in line with the expectations because Roos her collections always include sporty details.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Simone Lautenbach http://modemaniak.blogspot.com/

Jan Taminiau AIFW opens with couture

2011-01-27T00:52:00.010+01:00

The fourteenth edition of the Amsterdam Fashion Week was opened by designer Jan Taminiau tonight.

The designer began the evening with the show of his demi-couture show. Then the haute coutureshow, later in the evening followed. Iekeliene Strange, Ymre Stiekema and Fleurance Meijer opened the show.

Click here for the complete article en photos

Click here for the video of de fashionshow

Catwalk Pictures: Peter Stigter

Fur free fashion

2011-01-26T11:21:00.006+01:00

A visit to the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam is really worthwhile this week. Not that you can see so many flowers and plants over there around this time of the year. But what you can see is a very nice exhibition. An exhibition with a message. Until the 29th of January you can visit Fur Free.

Jojanneke van der Veer and Femke Dekker are initiators of the exhibition and also the collective brain behind the name Fur Free. Femke tells us that both she and Jojanneke are strongly against the use of fur in the fashion industry. ,,We wanted to make a statement against this, but in a fun and positive way. Protesting is not the way we operate”.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text and photography: Simone Lautenbach http://modemaniak.blogspot.com/

Agnès B. @ AIFW Downtown

2011-01-26T11:10:00.000+01:00

The beautiful label Agnès B presented the new collection today in the only store in Holland, in the centre of Amsterdam. With real life models standing in the window, the presentation sure drew attention from all people passing by. Everybody inside the store was also delighted by the, as always, wonderful collection of this classic French brand.

Agnès B has been giving her many fans around the world “simple, unique, high quality fashion like only Agnès can create, since 1975”, according to PR lady Eva. Her minimalistic French style is especially popular in Asia, where Agnès is a true superstar.

Click here for the complete article en photos

Text & photography: Lisa Goudsmit (lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com)

Yarn Unit @ Tenue de Nimes

2011-01-26T10:36:00.009+01:00

As part of the AIFW Downtown program, Dutch knitwear label Yarn Unit presented their new collection on a special location: in the innovative denim store Tenue de Nimes. The cool atmosphere in the store was a great surrounding for the luxurious brand Yarn Unit to show their newest pieces.

New Wave
This was the first collection designed by the new French creative director of Yarn Unit, Stéphane Barbier. Owner of Yarn Unit, Jan Everard Wiggelinkhuizen, has every reason to be proud of the brand that he founded only five years ago. This collection, called Splendor in the Grass, was inspired by the American 1961 movie with the same title. The French designer of the brand explains: “this ‘New Wave’ youthful feeling of the French/American cinema that focuses on total characters, is represented in the clothing by the eye for detail and subtle way of designing”.

Click here for the complete article en photos

Text & photos: Lisa Goudsmit - lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

Fashion meets art at NON by Kim

2011-01-26T09:43:00.007+01:00

The innovative menswear label NON by Kim, founded by Dutch designer Kim Bakker, presented her new collection at a very special place: the Willet Holthuysen Museum in Amsterdam. In this fairytale-like location, models were exhibited as real life art pieces.

The setting and clothes together made an almost surrealistic experience for the fashionable crowd that was pleasantly surprised by this unique setting. The modern fashion items combined with the classic surrounding made a completely different way of presenting: very fashion forward indeed.

Click here for the complete article and photos
Text & photography: Lisa Goudsmit lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

Styletoday official opening AIFW

2011-01-25T10:33:00.007+01:00

Saturday January 22 the official Styletoday AIFW opening party took place in Panama Amsterdam. The entire Dutch fashion scene was present. Young designer talents Leonie Smelt, Anneloes Ouwehand, Musa Shah, Indra Welman and JodeVisscher showed special pop-up shows the highlights from their collections.

Backstage @ Panama

During the evening DJ's Erick E, Baggi Begovic, Claire & Sheila Hill played in the main hall and in the smaller hall DJ's Ruben van der Meer & friends entertained the audiance untill the early morning.

The newest fall/winter collections at the Modefabriek 2011

2011-01-25T10:16:00.007+01:00

This weekend the 30th edition of the Modefabriek was being organized. Yesterday we visited the grand event where more than 600 stands represented their brand. The brands showed their newest collections for fall/winter 2011/2012 to admire or buy.

High-quality labels
There were lots of different brands: from high-quality labels such as Margit Brandt and Uno Due to sports brands like Helly Hansen and Le Coq Sportif. Besides the many stands we also saw great vintage items at the Trash & Treasures Garage Sale.

Click here for the complete article and photos

AIFW live streaming

2011-01-25T10:11:00.001+01:00

For the first time in the history of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week are all the shows live available through livestreaming. With live streaming the shows are not only visible for fashion professionals, but also for the rest of the world. Naturally, the images later in the day can be viewed at http://www.amsterdamfashionweek.com/.

AIFW.nlFrom the exclusive opening soiree, which AIFW the Dutch fashion week kicks off, until the show closes on Sunday, all shows can be followed live through the official website AIFW.

Read more

Jutka & Riska’s Swan Lake

2011-01-24T12:01:00.002+01:00

As part of the downtown program of AIFW, some of Amsterdam’s coolest stores are participating in the event, making Fashion Week accessible for all Dutch fashion lovers.

Vintage and 'new' fashionOne of the participants is one of Amsterdam’s most exciting vintage stores: Jutka & Riska. This unique shop, runned by the two stylish sisters Jutka and Riska, sells vintage designer clothing but also ‘new’ fashion and items exclusively made for Jutka and Riska.

Birds and NatureTheir contribution to AIFW Downtown is a window designed by two interns of the Jutka & Riska stores in Amsterdam and Antwerp: Inge and Veerle. The name of the window is ‘Birds and Nature’ and symbolizes freedom. The theme is inspired by The Swan Lake, which shows in the ballerina-style window and specially selected items in the store.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text & photo: Lisa Goudsmit - lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

From top to shoe Pauline van Dongen

2011-01-24T10:51:00.000+01:00

Light, movable fabrics, but also processed leather and shoes made by her own hand. The first solo show by Pauline van Dongen took place at the beginning of this evening in a cosy building at the Oudezijds Voorburgwal at the very heart of Amsterdam. Afterwards, the designer shows satisfied: ,,I couldn’t have wished for better, it all went very well”.

The show kicks off with a film titled Stereopsis. The idea behind the film is that eyes, both human and animal, are in different positions on the head. Because of this every animal and every person sees a certain image in a different way. This results in a film that shows particular movement. Stereopsis is also a preview of the womanswear collection that is shown directly after the film has ended.

Click here for the complete article and photos

Door Simone Lautenbach
http://modemaniak.blogspot.com/

OntFront brandstore opening @ AIFW Downtown

2011-01-24T10:08:00.003+01:00

On the first official day of the Amsterdam Fashion Week Downtown program, Dutch menswear label OntFront opened its brandstore on the Haarlemmerdijk in Amsterdam. It was only a year ago that young designers Liza Koifman and Tomas Overtoom from OntFront talked in the ‘Cutting edge’ area on the fashion fair ‘Modefabriek’ about their plans to get more points of sale in Holland and now they have their own store!

The beautiful luxurious store in this edgy shopping street in Amsterdam reflects their style perfectly; OntFront offers unique, cool, classy-with-a-twist fashion items with beautiful details. As they put it themselves, “OntFront is an exclusive clean cut menswear label, that stands for the fast life. The bad boy and the gentleman. Tailored and streetwise.”

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text & photo: Lisa Goudsmit - lisagoudsmit.blogspot.com

AIFW People: Friday 21

2011-01-23T12:00:00.002+01:00

During the events and shows today, we've saw a lot of inspiring people!

Creative manager Individuals, Peter Leferink

AIFW director Merle Deterink. Jasje & jeans: Supertrash, Top: Individuals

Stephanie Floor, AIFW. Top: Modstrom, Jeans: Bruuns Bazaar, Pumps: See by Chloe

Suzanne Berens

AMFI director Souraya Bouwmans & Head Design AMFI Leslie Holden

Kinmei Wong

Click here for more pictures

Pictures: Mirjam de Ruiter

Downtown: AMFI Individuals opening event

2011-01-22T18:02:00.001+01:00

The beautiful corner store ByAMFI on spui plein was the location of the opening event 10x10 by Individuals. The brand Individuals is presenting its 10^th fashion collection during this Amsterdam Fashion Week. A brand that is produced by young creatives whom are all studying at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute.

The concept of 10x10 tells the story of the five years of Individuals. It expresses that each collection and generation of fashion students has contributed to the development of the brand. “10x10 focuses on the specifics of every collection from the past.” Student Bing Gall tells me. “We have become a brand with a unique effluence and addition to Dutch fashion. And are growing each season.” The store has a very minimalistic design that leads you through the 10 different collection. A white line guides you through the store with a preview of the new collection and end point; Le Petit Mort, Fall/Winter collection 2011. “We are also introducing a new ‘budget’ collection, which is maybe more approachable for students like you and me. This collection is called canvas #1 by Individuals and exists out of hand printed singlets.”

Visit the store ByAMFI to experience this unique approach on Individuals and to have a look at its new collection. Spui 23, Amsterdam

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Mirjam de Ruiter (www.mirjamderuiter.com)

Photo’s: Suze Kuit (www.hold-in-your-breath.blogspot.com)

The opening of AIFW at Designer Market, Maison de Bonneterie.

2011-01-22T08:35:00.006+01:00

For the third time Maison de Bonnetrie is opening the fashion season with its exceptional Designer Market on the first floor. With a festive event, including a fashion bingo, the warehouse serves as a platform for Dutch design talent.

Collectie Bas Kosters

During fashion week young, but also already more established, designers are selling their collections at this warehouse in the city centre of Amsterdam. Designers as Addy van de Krommenacker, Bas Koster, Bravoure and Roparosa are represented and sold in the store. “It is very exciting to be here. I am selling some basics from my recent collection whom are closer to the public.” says designer Roos van der Kamp (Roparosa)

Click here for the complete article and photos

Text: Mirjam de Ruiter (www.mirjamderuiter.com)

Photos: Suze Kuit (www.hold-in-your-breath.blogspot.com)

2011-01-21T15:44:00.003+01:00

Rectificatie: op pagina 43 in het frontrow magazine #3 AW 11/12 staat een verkeerde fotograaf vermeld als maker van bovenstaande foto's.

Dit had moeten zijn RVDA (Reinier van der Aart). facebook.com/RVDAphoto

2011-01-21T15:19:00.005+01:00

Rectificatie: op pagina 43 in het frontrow magazine #3 AW 11/12 staat een verkeerde fotograaf vermeld als maker van bovenstaande foto's.

Dit had moeten zijn RVDA (Reinier van der Aart). facebook.com/RVDAphoto

AIFW opening Party by Styletoday.nl

2011-01-18T12:52:00.002+01:00

Next Saturday Styletoday present the official opening party at club Panama Amsterdam. Young designers like Indra Welman(Une Petite Robe Noire), Musa Shah, Leonie Smelt and Anneloes Ouwehand will provide a pop-up show during the party.

There are still a few tickets available online, you can order them here.

See you there!

2010-11-30T12:32:00.003+01:00

Even when it's not fashion week, we're still busy at making Dutch fashion a stronger and more succesful industry!

This is a video of the Fashion Week Fasterclass in collaboration with ABN AMRO and the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.

AIFW backstage crew in Namibia?

2010-09-03T09:22:00.007+02:00

Our friends from House of Orange visited Namibia for Orange Babies. They donated the clothes they collected at ‘A tribute to Orange Babies’-show at AIFW in July 2009. See how our donation came to the right destination:

See more of this journey on: http://house-of-orange.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-4-cheerful-day.html

Club Brillant

2010-07-29T18:08:00.006+02:00

This is it. AIFW’s last delivery for the year 2010. Optician Club Brillant hosted this show that contained some of the most memorable pieces of a selection of Hollands finest designers. Over sixty models walked the catwalk in these spectacular garments of designers including Mada van Gaans and Bibi van der Velden. The crowded show took an emotional turn when it showed the dramatic pieces of the early deceased Percy Irausquin.

Unlike the serious and sober collection Daryl van Wouw showed Saturday, the dresses on Club Brillant’s catwalk were colorful and playful. Just like how we know him.

The wearable pieces of art of Bibi van der Velden are again nothing less than absolute show-stoppers.

The red Percy Irausquin dress that was welcomed with deafening applause.

Written by Karin Aalberts
Photos by Aram Goudsmit

Meanwhile backstage..

2010-07-26T14:26:00.011+02:00

Models and crew are eating, drinking, getting hair and make-up done and on top of it all are preparing for the latest show of a successful thirteenth edition of AIFW.

In between shows a model drinks She Energy to own the runway of Club Brillant.

A large stock of Earth Water hydrates the models preparing for the show.

Chaotic events when the sixty models rehearse for the show, luckily the immense load of clothing is kept together by Soopl racks.

The runway guides are all clad in cute little blue dresses from webshop Lily’s closet.

Written by Karin Aalberts
Photos by Aram Goudsmit

ROPAROSA

2010-07-21T23:36:00.000+02:00

It’s finally time to Come out and play in style with Roparosa’s newest collection. The airy line consisted sporty yet chic garments, that are perfectly in line with Roos van der Kamp’s earlier collection (Catch as Catch Can Part 1 and Part 2), making her designs recognizable and easy to love.

Elastic waistbands and shiny materials are usually not the first things that pop in my mind when I think of chic or even likeable garments. Probably most fashion guru’s even wake up, every once in a while, sweating after a nightmare that’s called ladies sportswear . A successful design based on these unloved factors is probably equally as rare as hot weather in The rainy Netherlands. But lately the universe seemed to redefine her conception of rare since in the newly tropical lowlands it’s nothing less than unbearably hot and Roos van der Kamp showed a stunningly tasteful collection based on sportswear.

Besides the obvious sports references, also the geometric and futuristic shapes of Come out and play were hard to miss. The sharp angles and the heavier materials gave the collection a mature and fierce feel. That combined with the sport influence resulted into amazing showpieces that belong on AIFW’s catwalk. The best of both worlds: the crowd that witnessed this unusual mixture was probably just as astonished as the discoverer of the Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s uncommon but delicious.

Photos by Aram Goudsmit - www.persmoment.nl
Written by Karin Aalberts

SANDWICH_

2010-07-21T23:29:00.000+02:00

Right before the Sandwich show is about to start, an excited visitor next to me is surprised about the young and modern crowd the Sandwich_ show pulled in. The loyal Sandwich_ loving visitor who claims that usually this show only brings in the typical and mostly older Sandwich_ woman, is glowing with pride when Sandwich_ creative director Henriëtte Daniels steps on stage. Is this the beginning of a new Sandwich_ era with clothing not only suitable for the typical Sandwicher but also for the young hipsters in the room?

The creative brain behind the Sandwich_ collection shares her philosophy about designing simple yet innovative clothing, with the audience. Daniels says that she was inspired thirty years ago by Japanese designers, who made garments based on shapes and out of natural materials. This is still the style of the in twenty-four countries sold brand; unforced, easy-to-wear authentic clothing. Daniels underlines this conception with an comparison with television chef Jamie Oliver. His innovativeness is to explain by his ability to create new meals by mixing good and simple ingredients. The same way Sandwich_ creates new garments and new shapes based on the typical Sandwich_ ingredients.

Probably not as hip or as forward as the younger crowd would have rooted for, but easy one-hand-in-pocket clothing, that looks comfy enough to make the chic fashionista consider trading her tight dress, for an airy Sandwich_ trousers. It’s not the most spectacular or experimental show on the planet, but Sandwich_'s strength lies in their consistency and stability. I’m sure the Sandwich_ woman is rooting for their never-dying reliability.

Written by Karin Aalberts
Photos by Aram Goudsmit

Show report: Hunkemoller

2010-07-20T23:00:00.019+02:00

Hunkemoller was present during this edition of AIFW for the first time! Of course it was a full house with celebrities such as Jasmine Sendar and Inge Ypenburg.

The theme of the collection: "Women in bloom" which stands for the modern woman in bloom. The setting in the room was of course filled with blooming flowers all over the screens and a vanilla scent caught our attention.

Hunkemoller showed her fall/winter collection for this year. The lingerie sets were chic, romantic and yet girly. The thread for this collection were black accents combined with color and striking details such as lace, satin fabrics and strass stones.

Soft colors such as nude and pastel purple are a must this season varied with black sets.

According to Hunkemoller, the modern woman can be romantic and girlish at the same time. A few od the girlish features were the full floral printed jumpsuits, lingerie sets and robes.

Overall, a great collection which will be in stores for upcoming season!

Text by Stacey Currie - iwritefashion
Photos by Vincent Kos

Spotted @ AIFW

2010-07-20T22:58:00.011+02:00

There's never a dull moment at Fashion Week. Different styles clash during this event and I love seeing the styles of others! It always inspires me one way or the other!

This group stood out because of the diversity. It's such a good picture. Punk, rock, maxi dresses, plaids and stripes are combined in this one picture. They all look fantastic! Don't you think?

This was my all time favorite guy at Fashion Week: Allard Honigh. He walked by me as I was blogging but his self-made Chanel bag caught my eye! "I made it in 5 minutes" he said. Well, that's a great accomplishment! It looks exactly like the one from the Jak & Jil blog. This is a great DIY (do it yourself) project!

Text by Stacey Currie - iwritefashion
Photos by Vincent Kos

Show report: RANGAKU by Kentroy Yearwood

2010-07-20T22:45:00.017+02:00

Last friday Kentroy Yearwood's collection was the launch of AIFW's Green Fashion competition.

His collection is based on the revolutionary movement RANGAKU. It means Dutch studies or Dutch learning developed by Japan. In a much broader meaning it is Western learning. Through RANGAKU Japan learned aspects of the revolution occuring in Europe at that time.

The crowd assembled on the Westergasfabriek terrains as this show was open to the public. About 16 models stood quietly in plastic boxes showing off Kentroy's designs.

Kentroy is known for promoting the green fashion movement. That's why he continues to explore new ways of working with natural and organic materials.

This dress was one of my favorites; the pastel color and the use of soft materials make a beauitful dress.

Are you a young entrepeneur in the fashion industry? Click here for more information about The Green Fashion competition!

Text by Stacey Currie - iwritefashion
Photos by Vincent Kos

A lesson to make us work

2010-07-19T22:17:00.000+02:00

CJP ( an organisation wich actually promotes culture to youg people) organised a workshop for us on the AIFW. I didn't now what to expect, and was surprised when a real journalist was talking to us.
She spoke about fashion-journalism and where it's about. My long time question "are bloggers a risk for the magazine industry/journalism" was also responded.
She made us realize that there is more behind than we think. In my optinion you need to know some facts about the industry and of course the product, ,wich is clothing, but she told us that the reader is also very important. Well, I am not trying to learn you the lesson, but a workshop really did make sence for the new generation. It opend me the eyes a little bit more, so I hope we get to learn somethinig new next season. Who knows?

Text: Sónia, Style-Obscur
Photographs: Aram Goudsmit

Somewhere in Amsterdam, there was a light...

2010-07-19T22:00:00.000+02:00

At the end of the evening on Saturday, we even got a surprise by Conny Groenewegen. The designer created a catwalk outside. It was different and unexpected, and some of the guest may not have understood the show. Cool fact about it: The models had headphones in their hair for a reason, we got them too. This show's music was not coming from the speakers, in fact there where no speaker but from those headsets. Is conceptual fashion turning into utility? Maybe, but the silent was nice when the show ended and very peaceful in a way. And the pret-a-porter collection looked very pret-a-porter (love to have some of those items for myself).
A show that made you thing twice, go Conny!

Text: Sónia, Style-Obscur
Photographs: Aram Goudsmit

Palette de couleurs

2010-07-19T21:49:00.000+02:00

Darylvanwouw's latests show was very different than what we are used to (or expecting). The "streetcouture" is turned into something very chic! I loved the color and the way it was styled, however, there was something special about the models. In fact when I saw their hair and make up they made me think about the Acapella song (you know from Kelis, with the african theme, but better). I say: next summer we all will be looking very chic, and colorfull!

Text: Sónia, Style-Obscur
Photographs: Aram Goudsmit

Hello there, summer!

2010-07-19T21:36:00.000+02:00

The sunset afterparty (the name I made for this collection), started when the room got darker. But then the SS11 collection by DAGMAR entered the room. Just imagine: you wearing DAGMAR at a party after sunset (now it makes sense doesn't it). The craftmanship and love for textiles where visible from front row untill the back of the Salon. There where a lot of black peaces, and normally we all want color, but this collection still felt very "summer". The collection made me think about how would I wear it and with what? Well, be sure you could wear those items every where. From the "work" outfit until the "party-dress". We saw them all. Maybe because the collection is created but women (we know what we need, and desire). It looked very chic and sensual at the same time (the girl where not naked, but the seasuality of the clothes by covering their skin made this collection sensual). Loved the way the fabrics moved with the body (hated I was not wearing the outfits I saw on the catwalk). The hair was big, with a lot of volume, but didn't get in the way of the clothes. On the other hand, it pop-out the volume of the clothes even more, which was beautiful to see how free the garments where to move.

Text: Sónia - Style-Obscur

Photographs: Aram Goudsmit

There's no Fashion Like Show Fashion

2010-07-18T12:47:00.008+02:00

In between the shows the fashion crowd have a minute to flanner, take a pose, observe and 'investigate' eachother. Fashion Week is a moment where people know they will be watched by others and therefore put a lot of effort into their wardrobe. Will they also put this kind of effort in their fashion presentation without a fashion week? Let's hope so. Take a look and be inspired!

Christina (DFF) prefers extravagant fashion items

Julien explained his clothes have to look like Julien.

Stylist Yordi huinder (r) discribed his style nonchalant and 'to young for my age'. On his side is eshter Nieuwjurk

Danny (2nd year student Rietveld) wears custimized pants and torned tights

Costume Designer Jimmy Paul has a good sense of humour if it comes to fashion

Laurie de Kok (fashion designer) wears artistic shoes of Fleur Thio

Stephanie Floor (AIFW) wears a jumpsuit of Bruuns Bazaar

Photo's by VINCENT KOS, www.vincentkos.com

Written by Marij Rynja, www.MarysCupOfTea.Blogspot.Com

There was something about NON (by KIM): UNCONTACTED

2010-07-17T17:06:00.000+02:00

As I walked into the Salon the feeling of art was in the air. The SS11 collection by NON by KIM was all about fluent lines, volumes, abstraction and craftsmanship. There was a sense of freedom in the air. Once again Kim gave us a wonderful show. The concept, the clothes, and the art film matching and completing each other. Even with the concept and her share of abstract ideas with the audience made this was a very wearable collection. It's casual and rock-and-roll, but sophisticated at the same time. Simple but very well made. Also the color card was fresh. The love and passion for art and fashion were there, and everyone could feel it .

Also the Salon was very full of people. I think when you taste the love for craftsmanship by Kim, you just can't get enough.

Text: Sónia, Style-Obscur
Photographs: Aram Goudsmit

The kings of Ado Les Scents

2010-07-17T10:48:00.004+02:00

Last year winner of the Frans Molenaar price, Hyan Yeu, presented his SS 2011 Men’s wear collection, called ‘The king is helpless’. The show started with sophisticated royal classic music. It was a very elegance and clean fashion show. The collection had elemets of the smoking suit, but translated into sportive and clean men shirts. The cloths breath air and look like they fit like a glove.

The round shoulders slightly puffy ¾ sleeves and little pleats on unexpected place - like the neckline - subtly add softness to the classic men’s garments. The models walked static on middle age sandals, but looked cool and fresh.

Hyan Yeu is very promising for the future, because of his craftsmanship and refinement. With this collection - and with this young promising new designer - men’s fashion has found another nobel knight that puts fashionable menswear on the fashion map in the Netherlands. A knights tail to keep an eye on.

Vivian Sneep & Marij Rynja
pictures by Vincent Kos

Show report: Monique Collignon

2010-07-17T00:07:00.013+02:00

I had high expectations for Monique's Spring/Summer 2011 predictions because I liked her previous collections.

The audience swarmed in and when everyone was seated the lights slowly went out. At every show celebrities are present. As well as this show; celebrities such as Marijke Helwegen, Ans Markus, Bastiaan van Schaik and Graziella Ferraro were front row.

Monique is known for her feminine designs. She presented a wearable collection for the working woman. It consists of flamboyant dresses, leather looks, printed blouses, trousers and skirts. Highlights were the assymetric jumpsuit and ruffled dresses. The looks were finished off with colored flowerclips in the hair and nice and comfortable wedges. So don't store your wedges yet ladies!

Kim Feenstra, from Holland Next Top Model opened the show and Sylvia Geersen (also from HNTM) ended it. Text by Stacey Currie - iwritefashion
Photos by Vincent Kos

Show report: Frans Molenaar Couture Prize

2010-07-16T17:04:00.015+02:00

Designer Frans Molenaar founded the Frans Molenaar Prize in 1996. The competition is still going strong after all these years and this Fashion Week it's the fifteenth time the prize will be awarded to a talented couture designer.

The six young designers who participated this edition are Denise Esser, Ratno Ho, Tishya Oedit, Marie Burlot, Fred Farrow and Piotrek Panszczyk.

This wasn't a usual catwalkshow; it was hosted as it was a competition. So a jury panel was present (as well as Frans Molenaar himself) to hand out the prize to the winner.

The show started with Piotrek's collection. Inspired by the '70's. Think of flower power and disco spheres. Romantic dresses in abundance and not to forget color!

Denise Esser's collection is called "Transformation". She created her collection thinking about the different materials there are and how these can be combined. She combined glitter and sheer fabrics. What stoord out about her creations were the futuristic collars. Iron cubics were weaved into the fabric which gave it a Lady Gaga look.

The third young designer Tishya Oedit got her inspiration from nature. A common inspiration source but she looked further than leaves and nature colors. She captured particular forms of items in nature such as stones and fungus.
The next collection was by Fred Farrow. He tried to ancor neurotic realism by using multiple layers, fierce colors with a high rock and glamour caliber. As he explained "Think of it as a Chanel girl who goes to a party and traded shirts with the bar tender."

Ratno Ho was inspired by mermaids and the ocean. She also couldn't get the oilleak out of het system when designing this collection.

Last but not least Marie Burlot. She wants to tell stories with her designs. That's why this collection is called "Skin of grief". She used divers materials for her balloon like dresses.

And who won this years Coutire Prize? Fred Farrow! "We haven't seen his designs yet, it's unlike anything we've seen" thus Jhim Lamoree, one of the jury members. What did Fred win? He won €10.000 and his collection will be expositioned in Ferry van der Nat's store in Amsterdam. Congratulations to Fred from AIFW!

Text by Stacey Currie - iwritefashion
Photos by Vincent Kos

Show report: The Red Rail

2010-07-16T14:20:00.013+02:00

The Red Rail is a new project which has been initiated by Nobel, a non profit creative project agency. The meaning behind the collection is a pretty great idea if you think about it. The aim is to create a new generation of blood donors. Yes, that's right. How will they achieve thats? The only way you can get your hands on one of the designs is to donate blood.

"A collection of clothes you cannot buy with your money but inly with your blood"

18 designers participated and each showed one garment. Although the collection was made by different designers, they had the same inspiration source: the act for giving blood.

The atmosphere in the Zuiveringshal was radiant and it was a full house. The show started off with a red laserbeam representing a blood line. Which was a great addition to the show. As the models walked on stage the beam was the center of their heart.

The show started off with beautiful designs including dresses made of soft and shiny material. Loose fitted jumpsuits. Men were represented as well, the main color was soft blue which fitted perfectly in the scheme.

Overall a great initiative for a good cause. What do you think after seeing the collection? Would you donate blood in return for a piece of garment? I think it will have a positive effect on today's society. It surely does make you think about donating blood and what it means to other people.

For more information, go to The Red Rail

Text by Stacey Currie - iwritefashion
Photos by Vincent Kos

Individuals - collective success

2010-07-16T12:24:00.005+02:00

Moment of truth: The students of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute present their spring/summer 2011 collection, which is called ‘Some dreams of running away to the circus”. In early collections, Individuals has a more reserved image. Although, backstage, there was not a word of truth in it. I saw colourful creations and artistic outspoken make-up. This looks promising…

The collection exist of powerful classics with a royal touch. The models look like feminine modern Yasmine’s, entering on their high heels from the Far East. Colours like deep turquoise, camel, black and gold passed over the catwalk. A lot of draperies and moulage from silk, suitable for different sizes. It was elegance matched with comfortable.

Liesbeth in’t Hout (director AMFI) was speakless: “… It was a perfect combination of shape, colour and fitting. I’m very glad that the AMFI is able to perform on this level, time and time again.”

For more information look @ www.individualsatamfi.nl

By Vivian Sneep

www.vieflavie.com

FASHION LAB show 1: Nicolaas | HerenVanKoster

2010-07-16T12:10:00.007+02:00

Thursday morning, another day for fashion! Todays programm shows young talents who have been selected by AIFW.
Nicolaas - once a Project Catwalk participant - showed his first s/s 2011 collection, called EDGE. The collection has an upbeat city energy, with bright colours, executed in uni-toned outfits. Nicolaas showed leather tops and mini dresses, leggings with see-throug edges. An absolute eye-catcher were his jewelry made by Mammoet Gerritsen, his father.

More info: www.nicolaasgerritsen.blogspot.com

Seconcly, HerenvanKoster started the show with a video to explain the audience how wearable the clothes are. They look complicated at first, but the male model in the video easily changed his outfits. HerenvanKoster - designed by Roos Koster - has an humoristic point of view on how to dress and reshape the male body. Her clothes have funny names like 'pikbroek dik 3'. She explained she wants to protect manliness and virility and understress some typical male 'elements'.
On top of that, Koster schminked her handsome male models with cartoonesk smiley faces, a little freaky, like the joker of the Dark Night.

Some reactions: 'a very cool show concept, but to wear it? We don't know yet!' Marc and Raymond from NumberKeys said.

For more info: www.herenvankoster.nl

Roos Koster backstage with the models.

by Vivian Sneep & Marij Rynja
www.vieflavie.com
www.maryscupoftea.blogspot.com

pictures by Vincent Kos
www.vincentkos.com

Fashion A La Carte @ De Culinaire Keuken

2010-07-15T13:26:00.012+02:00

During Fashion Week De Culinaire Werkplaats presents their vision on fashion on a plate. The first thing we asked ourselves was: how is this combination possible? Can fashion be food? Can food be fashion?

Yes! Eric and Marjolein explained us: "Fashion and Food have many similarities. First, what you eat, tells who you are. This counts for clothing too. Secondly, fashion is a big inspiration to our work. We monitor fashion magazines for future trends. This can be very literal, for example polkadots, a texture like wool or a specific colour or shape.”

But also the conceptual approach to fashion is represented in their food-design. Concepts like ‘black’ or ‘faith, hope & love’ are guiding their creative perspective on food and eating. No wonder Viktor & Rolf are designers they feel most related to. Like Viktor & Rolf, they work conceptually and have unique visions on how to approach a design. “...It's about the whole context, the story you tell”, they said. This is similar with their food.

De Culinaire Werkplaats has a mission: to make people aware of their eating lifestyle. They focused on veggies, fruits and grains. Sustainability and social responsibility plays an important role in this food studio in New West. They emphasized: “It is a misunderstanding that healthy food can’t be surprising and amusing. It can be an artistic experience, which helps you by appreciate your dinner.” Eric and Marjolein also work with artists from other art disciplines. In two months they are cooperating with a poet. Words will be the starting point for the food they will then work with.

For the fashion week they made a special menu/collection called “wear to eat”. You can order a whole fashion menu, which exist of five small dishes. So, maybe you like to try the ‘coupe make-up’ as a starter and continue your dinner with ‘Dress to impress’. Taste Green is the new black or be inspired by Black Dress Red Coat.

And there is an interesting undutch edge to their conceptkitchen: what it costs is up to you! you decide the price on your bill.

Go visit this unique restaurant and enjoy fashion a la carte. Eat with a conscious mind and fill your spoon with food for thought. After dinner you must absolutely agree that fashion and food are into each other.

Written by Vivian Sneep and Mary Rynja, pictures by Chelsea Syrett

www.vieflavie.com

www.maryscupoftea.blogspot.com

Winner GSTAR RAW LICHTING 2010: Marije de Haan, menswear designer

2010-07-15T12:38:00.024+02:00

Not everyone can win the LICHTING 2010 award, but showing during this show is maybe as important as winning. In the audience were several higly influential fashion professionals, who will see and headhund new talents.

Marije de Haan won the price of 10.000 euro and the opportunity to show during New York Fashion Week this year. But do not forget about the other designers of LICHTING 2010, like Karolina Nieslony, Floor Kolen, Mariko Ferrier, Ruby Verhoeven, Ingo Binder, Matthias Louwen, Merel de Jong and many more. More information about LICHTING 2010 and the nominees: click here.

Karolina Nieslong ↑

Floor Kolen ↑

Mariko Ferrier ↑

Ingo Binder ↑

Matthias Louwen ↑

Merel de Jong ↑

Musa Shah ↑

Janneke Lemmers ↑

Tony Marcus Sacharias ↑

Ruby Verhoeven ↑

Lotte van Schijndel ↑

Bianca Herranz van Roeden ↑

Pictures: Vincent Kos

Interpretations on the little black dress, by Indra Welman

2010-07-15T12:24:00.000+02:00

'Une Petit Robe Noire' is the fashion label of Indra Welman. This eccentric and artistic lady has designed an ungoing collection of little black dresses, all sexy and erotic.The one of a kind dresses are available at the webshop.

Sesame Streets Big Bird has become a fashion icon @ Jimmy Paul

2010-07-15T12:05:00.001+02:00

For Jimmy Paul fashion is show, a theatrical play to perform. Jimmy Paul and Mary Me designed a over the top collection inspired by the American Beauty Pegants, little girls with pinks, big hair, pattycoats, glitters and scary smiles. Sesame's Big Bird would have loved this collection! So soft, so chearfull, so poufy. Jimmy Paul explained that the fantasyworld of children is his latest 'thing' and bring this world into a grown up world but without losing the playfullness. Jimmy Paul and his mysterious partner Mary Me (she had a bunny-mask on during the show) stressed that this show is not about presenting a trend or a wearable fashion collection. It is more about artistic expession.

photo's: Vincent Kos

FASHION LAB: MARLOUS BLAAS & QUOC TANG

2010-07-15T11:56:00.012+02:00

MARLOES BLAAS

Entering the first summer collection, called ‘Derived’ by Marloes Blaas, a sweet girl offers me a wooden stock to eat. With this gesture, Marloes Blaas, shows visitors her appreciation for old Dutch traditions.

Backstage Marloes talks openly about her thoughts: “... This collection is inspired on the freedom after the Second World War. I asked myself the question: How do you wake up, when such terrible disaster has just ended?”

The show started with a very lively country music turned on quite loud. This immediately gives you the feeling that you are on a (fashion) farm. Models breeze in, with a smile on their faces and with hair plaited nonchalantly. The designs are based on fluid lines and were dipped in a natural palette of pastel colours. The outfits are very similar to work clothing -all with a playful touch.

The total show looks like a very pleasant country movie, with off course a happy end. Marloes entered the catwalk as well, and bowed proudly . The audience applauds.

more information on www.marloesblaas.nl

QUOC TANG - INTO THE WILD

One minute before the show of Quoc Thang, everybody was surprised about the strong smell that was spread. What is this smell and where does it come from? It smells like fresh grass and when the first model entered the catwalk slowly, in a adventure outfit, and the sound of whistle birds came to my ear, we all realize the smell is actually part of the concept.

This collection originated in a outdoor swimming pool, the designer in total silence. This feeling was the starting sign for Tang’s’s creative brain to go to work. This way of brainstorming is very logical for him. He confirmed: “… My experiences are the best source of inspiration for me, I like to translate emotion in my designs.”

The collection was rough and controversial. Fabrics like woolen, cotton and leather were combined with high tech polyester. The jacket has a central role in his collection. He trandformed the jacket into a t-shirt.

More information on www.quocthang.nlhttp://www.quocthang.nl

images by Vincent Kos

by Vivian Sneep

www.vieflavie.com

Strong Fashion statements of three Fashion Masters

2010-07-15T10:54:00.154+02:00

Franciscus (l), Jitske (m) and Oda (r), ready for the real fashion world.

Franciscus van der Meer, Jiska van Rossum and Oda Pausma graduated this summer at the Fashion Masters ArtEZ Arnhem, and proved they really are masters of fashion. Remarkable was that although they have different characters, their collections fitted well together and faded over very nicely.

FRANCISCUS VAN DER MEER - 'Passant, souviens - toi / passer - by, remember'

Franciscus van der Meer showed a collection based on social suppression versus freedom. He have used fashion to communicate on a human scale, because to him fashion is a powerful phenomenon in our society. A designer can use that power to make people more aware, like 'living in fear', 'be suppressed by others' or 'freedom of speech'. Van der Meer translated the journey of suppression to freedom in a collection that started with a lot of black, coats cut in half, held together with suede belts. Also he used stripe motives with a subtle reference to the camp-uniform of World War II. But then, the collection gets enlightened and focus on liberation. The clothes gets les dark and shows less belts, more volume and more freedom in movement, all very well executed.

JISKA VAN ROSSUM - 'Adorned in Elegance'

Jiska van Rossum showed a tough menswear collection. Van Rossum presented her interpretation of the 'New Man', a man who is seductive by showing his vulnerability. She translated this concept with covering and uncovering the naked body, with slits and openings in classic pieces of clothing. It is clear that her fashion puts men in a new spotlight of being looked at, to stand out. Van Rossum used hard and soft materials, knitting’s, curved as well as straight lines, big draping shapes versus rigid and classical elements of masculine silhouette. Very strong silhouettes and a promising new talent in the fashion field.

ODA PAUSMA - 'Hobohemian Heaven'

Oda Pausma is a one of a kind fashion designer. Highly triggered by the stories, poetry and mysteries around the Chelsea Hotel New York of the 1970s, where actors, writers, musicians, artists and designers lived for months, Pausma created a poetic collection with folded leather, padded necklines, blacks silks, and ochre yellow. Surprising were the finishing of wrinkled curtain bands, the curtain hooks still attached!! One look was a little uncomfortable: a more or less naked model entered the runway in a leather bustier without the cups. Maybe a reference to the sexual liberty and bra-less times of the 70s, where rock'nroll happened in the Chelsea Hotel.

Written by Marij Rynja - Mary's Cup Of Tea
Pictures by Vincent Kos - www.vincentkos.com

ABN Opening Soiree: Iris van Herpen S/S 2011

2010-07-15T09:43:00.003+02:00

The 13th edition of the Amsterdam Fashion Week has now been officially open! With a special opening event, sponsored by ABN-AMRO, two designer labels will enter the spotlights of the catwalk to present their commercial and creative development and reveal the steps they need to take to make it international. Tonight Spijkers & Spijkers and Iris van Herpen showed their new collections.

Iris van Herpen S/S 2011 'Crystallisation'
Iris van Herpen, a young woman of 26 years, already have blown away the international fashion world with her technical and highly conceptual fashion creations. She works with unusual materials like rubber, leather, metallics, chains and even plastics, and creates fashion that is called 'musea-worthy' by the audience tonight.
Tonight she have shown us an exclusive preview of her latest collection, called Crystallisation. Ten looks - all sexy minidresses made of skillful leather construction - formed the basis. But there was so much more to it. A unique cooperation with architects Benthem Crouwel - made by order of ARCAM - inspired her to conceptualise the concept of water: soft and fluid like water versus hard and mathematic structured ice-cristals. Frozen waterfalls were wrapped around the models bodies or integrated with her technical leather creations.

The show started with a vibrating sound, the audience literally drilled of high expectations. Then, a big videoschreen shows us a naked woman's body, waterfalls and splashing water agains her skin. A model presents herself in the lights of the video, dressed in a frozen waterfall, made of molded transparent plastic, and dissappears again. The sound of falling waterdrops and electronic music of Salvador Breed bumps out of the speakers. It's showtime for Iris van Herpen. Immediately, when the first models enters the runway, the fashion crowd sheers and applauded, you could feel the drill and enthusiasm on their faces. Van Herpen used also video on the runway itself, the image of an identical model followed her footsteps, like a cape that's tailing her body. Spectacular!
The models walked in specially made shoes, an cooperation with United Nude, which looked dazzling high. And the hair of the models even were decorated with twinkling frozen water drops. The whole show was one, clear and well composed presentation.
One item in particular shows how Iris van Herpen re-inventing herself with new ways of creating fashion. She made one showpiece with a 3D-printer, a futuristic new way of printing objects, mostly used by architects. Van Herpens 3D-printed showpiece rests on the shoulders of the model and looks like a sculptured bolero top.

Van Herpen explained before the show that she feels fashion is far behind if it comes to new techniques, materials and construction-methodes. She looks further than only textiles or natural materials. She sculps her fashion, like an artists.

We have asked some first reactions of the fashion crowd. TV-Host Arie Boomsma said that even he doesn't know a lot about fashion, he feld Iris van Herpen is one of a kind in this world. He was blown away by her creations. Andrea van Pol called the show powerful, original and elevated. She admires how Van Herpen is so original in a fashion world where everything is already done before. The collections makes you wonder how it is made, and what it is what we just saw. Some other visitors called it dynamic, esthetic and fluid.

Well done and congratulations Iris van Herpen with this great, great show. Thank you for giving the Dutch audience this sneak preview for Londen Fashion Week.

Written by Marij Rynja - maryscupoftea- , backstage photo's by Chelsea Syrett

ABN AMRO openings soiree: SIS by Spijkers & Spijkers

2010-07-15T09:36:00.005+02:00

SAIL AWAY WITH SISters Spijkers and Spijkers

It was raining cats and dogs. We Dutchies know how to dress up, even when the weather is not fashion friendly. Anne Drijver (Dutch actress) was dressed in an exciting jumpsuit from a new Dutch fashion label called Bravoure. She tells us Fashion Week is the only week when you can dress up without any excuses. Her friend Hanna Bervoets (journalist) wears a colourfull dress of River Island and dressed it up with some vintage accessories. It was clear, that the vision to dress up without excuses was represent by many other visitors.

Hanna Bervoets (l) and Anna Drijver (r)

Tonight, during the opening of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week, the time was ripe, for twin sisters Riet and Truus Spijkers to show their second label, called SIS. After working some years in London and Milan, they were back in town, with a warm reception. And that’s not without a reason, because this new collection was

typical Spijkers and Spijkers: powerful shapes, a modern touch, art deco influences from the twenties and refinement in combination with elegance.

Riet and Truus Spijkers after the show, dressed in SIS

The show starts with images of the sky. You almost get a very adventure feeling. The theme of the collection was sailing: we saw stripes, dresses with prints of sailing ships, modern saloir-collars and high waist pants and skirts. Colors like marine-blue, white, light grey and black were added in the creations. Remarkable was that these modern sailing creations were easy to wear and accessible for a broad targetgroup.

The models looks like clones of the twin sisters: long blond straight hair and tall. A coincidence? We don’t think so. The make-up artists of Maybeline New York had chosen for a natural look with only very outspoken red-orange lips. It was clear that this collection - and the make-up as well - communicate fashion for strong independent women.

Spijkers & Spijkers have come to shore with this new fashion label, called SIS. Happy sailing!

The young models with not more than statement-red lips and natural make up.

Stephanie Floor and Mirielle Kuijpers of AIFW are wearing Spijkers & Spijkers dresses of collection SS2010

Merle Deterink, head-director of AIFW wearing Spijkers & Spijkers, f/w 2010.

Written and edited by Vivian Sneep and Marij Rynja, photo's made by Chelsea Syrett

Walking around in Van Lamsweerde & Matadin's heads @ FOAM

2010-07-13T23:47:00.018+02:00

Have you ever wondered whats going on in an artists head? How he or she thinks or how it looks? Is it messy or structured? Or is there pretty much everything floating around? Fotografiemuseum_Amsterdam FOAM can give us an impression. Fashion-art-photographers Inez van Lamsweerde (1963) and Vinoodh Matadin (1961) have tried to visualise what has been in their heads for 25 years with more than 300 pictures, varying from blown-up photos, laminated images, posters and tiny pieces-of-art framed in a shiny silver list. Walking through the rooms and alleys of FOAM, you walk so to speak through their heads.

Unlike other overview exhibitions, Inez & Vinoodh's work is not presented in a chronological order or in themes. Instead they have chosen for a more intuitive approach and mixed it all up: a glossy fashion spread for Vogue of 2007 next to a black-and-white portrait of a Hollywood actor or a framed Polaroid of 1993. It’s about context and interconnection between images. And all images represents their visual language, their identity, and their professional journey. Inez & Vinoodh described the exhibition like 'ongoing sentences, without a beginning and an end, where every word is an image’.

The duo have explored unique ways to stretch the definition whether it is called fashion, fine art, photography or commercial work. Therefore this exhibition shows how exciting the distinction (and tension) between these conflicting fields can be. It is an overview of indeed pretty much everything this internationally well-known fashion duo have accomplished so far. Don't be too late to visit the exhibition during the summer, mid September 2010 the exhibition will end.

Background

Inez van Lamsweerde (1963) and Vinoodh Matadin (1961) both studied at the Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam. Eager for more fashion, Van Lamsweerde specialized in Fashion Photography and Matadin in Design & Styling. Art have brought them together, professionally and passionately.

This broad luggage of fine art, fashion, visual and design have excluded the duo from other fashion photographers. But more characteristic is their edgy integration of commercial advertorial work with the fine arts, two opposites in the eye of fashion.

Visit this link to see an interview with Vinoodh Matadin & Inez van Lamsweerde during the openings-ceremony last June, 2010. They give feedback on the way of presentation, on their cooperation and their work. Recommended to see this video before you step into their heads!

Limited Edition Paper made by M/M (paris) ! Only € 7,95, a real collectors item.
Exclusively made for this exhibition, M/M (paris) designed a newspaper filled with 25 superposters, an image for every year Vinoodh and Inez are together, in work and in love. And M/M have designed a custom-made typography them, which is spread through the exhibition and is on the back of every poster as well. So, buy 25 images of Inez & Vinoodh for only €7,95. For sale at FOAM or via their webshop.

Where: FOAM, Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam | When: untill 15th of September 2010 | Price: 10 euros | Info: www.foam.nl | Free guided tour on 15th of July (this thursday!) at 19:30 hrs.

Text and pictures by Marij Elisabeth Rynja

Kelder sale @ studio Frans Molenaar

2010-07-13T20:19:00.013+02:00

Fashion Week DOWNTOWN is the 'off-schedule' program of AIFW and the best thing about it is that it's open to the public! The Kelder sale of Frans Molenaar was on today's schedule.

Frans Molenaar is a Dutch couturier that has been around for about 40 years now. Until 2005 he has launched 80 different collections. Great achievement!

This year Frans collaborated with AIFW and presented a 'Kelder' (basement) sale. This sale is based on the remains of previous collections by the couturier. 'Not everyting in a collection gets sold and this is stored in the basement. Hence a basement sale', thus Frans.

Entering the studio there were multiple racks full of clothes. Mostly hung by color to present a clear and beautiful picture. Walking by the racks you could see the differences in collections. You could find trenchcoats and jackets in tweed fabrics, costumes and suits. It was a walk back in time. 'Some of these pieces are at least 25 years old and they still look great' the couturier added.

And he was absolutely right, we spotted beautiful handmade dresses with details barely noticable by the naked eye. But modern pieces were in store too such as dotted blouses.

Because of the different collections at the sale there was pretty much something for everyone! And for almost half (or even more) off of the original price!

Text by STACEY CURRIE
Photos by CHELSEA SYRETT

2010-07-13T12:18:00.008+02:00

You can finally own your own Claes Iversen design, as he opened a beautiful shop/atelier yesterday on the Herengracht 176.

Obviously the whole fashion pack attended the opening - where Claes himself was brimming with pleasure and excitment. And who can blame him, last year his whole archive was burnt to cinders in a disastrous fire.

Congratulations Claes on your perserverance and stunning store!

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHELSEA SYRETT

DOWNTOWN Dress up!

2010-07-11T19:49:00.004+02:00

Various new designers filled a spot in the building on the Raamgracht for Fashion week DOWNTOWN. Walking in the little pop-up-store-ish environment enthusiastic young designers cannot wait to show you their stuff. Some make jewelry, others clothing or bags. While yesterday models UNdressed from the pieces of the present designers, today everybody was invited to dress UP in those same clothes.

Oskar Fitts

Stop looking for Oskar, he’s fictive. Instead of a tall Swedish looking boy we find a petit girl by the name of Renske Versluijs. Together with old classmate Lieke Zonnenberg, she created the creative and conceptual brand Oskar Fitts. ‘Oskar is a character from the book Extremely loud and incredibly close, he’s a philosophizing boy, always thinking about things no-one ever thinks about. Fitts is the last name from Ricky Fitts, a character from American Beauty. The scene where he’s fascinated by the unexpected beauty of a whirling plastic bag is representative for our conception of beauty’. The key ingredient of the designing process for the two HKU-graduates lies in gathering. Everything out of the ordinary life that has a sudden beauty is collected and used as an inspiration for their clothing. ‘We find it important that our clothing is a little misunderstood at first, you have to look closer to understand it. That our clothing is astonishing is what want to achieve’.
www.oskarfitts.com

Daniela Larue

Daniela Larue is an illustrative artist and fashion designer graduated from the Maastricht art academy (ABK). Larue has a conceptual way of designing, using stories and associations as her inspiration. Fliehende Sturme is the name of her newest clothing collection. The pieces are based on the idea of being locked up and the need to escape. Like a princess in a tower who has to tie sheets to escape out of the window, Larue created pieces that associates with that scenario. ‘For me, designing is a game of restrictions, my clothing has to fit in a certain frame. So for Fliehende Sturme, I obliged myself to use materials that would only be available in a high tower chamber such as sheets and pillow cases’. Larue also prefers to work with old and pure materials that she gathers in second hand stores and re-uses in a new and different garment. The blue dress on the wall is made out of old upside down trousers, the bottom has a zipper and can by tied by a belt. ‘I use an old pair of slacks as a jacket and a skirt as a top. I like it when old garments can be used for a new one’. The strength of Larue’s clothing is that at first you don’t see the details of the old garment but you see the new garment she mad out of it. For example; the top Larue is wearing on the photo, was actually a skirt.
www.danielalarue.nl

Written by Karin Aalberts
Photo's by Chelsea Syrett

Copypaste by Catta Donkersloot and Lisa Kortenhorst

2010-07-11T19:21:00.003+02:00

Fashion designer Catta Donkersloot and photographer Lisa Kortenhorst worked together on, again, a unique exhibition. They’ve already showed their clothing and photo’s, inspired by several books, in hotel rooms that were all furnished in a specific theme and they made a show where they switched the role between models and guests which made the guests on the catwalk the ones that were being stared at. At this exhibition, that is showed till july 18 at Damrak 70, the twosome emailed each other without saying one word. Kortenhorst would send an photo or image to Donkersloot, who responded with an outfit, from there on Kortenhorst goes along with a photo that is based on the outfit and so on and so on.

This question-answer concept forced them to create new images in a certain amount of time. It began with a photo by Kortenhorst, who is located in Berlin, she took a picture of the Jewish memorial and edited it into an image of abstract black and white shapes. The exhibition is located in an old office building and set in -as it looks like- an old direction room. Through a window you can see the correspondence between the tho artists in a chamber below. Behind the dresses the images of the email-session are showed.

Fascinating how working with so many restrictions, leads to new point of views with interesting results and ultimately to an excellent collaboration. Kortenhorst confirms that that is the reason why they ‘would do anything to get round the ordinary catwalkshow’. The second half of Copypaste will be showed at Berlin Fashion Week in January 2011.

Photos by Chelsea Syrett

Written by Karin Aalberts

Jardin de Modes: Carte blanche, fashion as you create it

2010-07-11T12:50:00.003+02:00

Maison Descartes opened it's lovely garden for the DOWNTOWN public. The green and specious garden of the French institute formed the scenery for a giant photoshoot by photographer Michelle-Aimee van Tongerloo. Visitors had the opportunity to dress up and be photographed in this romantic setting. Even the writer and photographer of this blog couldn't escape from a little bit of modelling in the summer heat. Photo's will follow soon!

INDIVIDUALS PREVIEW

2010-07-11T01:19:00.007+02:00

Individuals today gave a glimps of what their collection that will be on the catwalk Thursday looks like. The line that carries the name Some dream of running away to the circus is inspired on.. guess what; the circus. Individuals made sure that they didn’t give too much away of the actual collection but one of the designers of this newest collection of Individuals, Lisa Whittle assures us that the show will be more daring than the shows before, ‘It’s is a bigger show and also more risky and experimental, it’s a little less on the safe side’.

The eight AMFI students that designed the new collection for Individuals; Lisa Whittle, Selina van Grondele, Steffi Dekkers, Marleen Hilbrink, Xiawen Ji, Blathnaid Geoghegan, Catelijn Visser en Doortje van den Heuvel. (Not in right order)

‘The pieces are frivolous and playful. It’s a normal girl during the day going out at night and let loose. Searching for freedom and airiness. That’s why unlike last season the pieces are very loose. The idea came from a trapeze artist falling down, the pieces we made shape beautifully falling down’, explains Whittle.

Photos by Vincent Kos

Written by Karin Aalberts

Barbie loves De Bijenkorf

2010-07-11T00:46:00.015+02:00

It started out with a petit plastic doll that included long blond hair, big blue eyes, an imperturbable smile, impossible body sizes and a pink dress that hurts your eyes. Although little brothers seemed to like nothing more than to cripple and troture our most precious property and an old barbie was quickly forgotten with the coming of a more fancy modern pregnant barbie with a loose belly (incl. baby barbies offcourse) our love for the plastic icon is eternal.

Last year Barbie turned fifty and to celebrate her still charming and youthful appearance several designers showed their view on how a true barbie dress should look like. This year five dutch designers (Bas Kosters, Claes Iversen, Miss Blackbirdy, Spijkers en Spijkers and Addy van den Krommenacker) repeated this ode to Barbie, designing their own Barbie dress. At the Barbie loves de Bijenkorf event those dresses were shown as well as five New York designs (Nicole Miller, Koi Suwannagate, Betsey Johnson, David Dixon and Parvesh & Jai) from last year.

Bas Kosters is with his personal collection of 151 barbies probably the biggest Barbie expert of the bunch. He created a short dress with a handmade patern and big shoulderspads made of colourful and decorative facings.

The dramatic long turquoise gown that Addy van den Krommenacker designed for Barbie is not that different from the dresses he usually shows. As he confirms himself Barbie fits perfectly in his feminine and elegant clothing.

A suprising colour input came from Miss Blackbirdy. Instead of screaming bright colours, she choose for a subtle nude. The drawings she made for the dress were layered upon the nude, ‘I drawed my dream dress, a dress that every girl would want to wear. Long, elegant with bows and everything’.

The jumpsuit that Spijkers & Spijkers created, showed a side of Barbie we didn’t quite knew yet. With this androgyne look Barbie is definitely not old fashioned and ready to hit the town 2010 style.

The pink and Short (with a capital S) dress that Claes Iversen designed for Barbie was with it’s 15.000 crystals definitely not an easy job to make but resulted in a delicious doll-like dress. Iversen says he was aiming for a dress that feels like it is made for a doll, ‘I wanted to enlarge the small Barbie, but still keep it very doll-like’. Iversen also adds that the dress actually is quite in line with his last collection, ‘That collection was made for a girly girl, I think this dress is very similar to that clothing’.

For the true Barbie lovers SuperTrash designed Barbie nightgowns wich are now for sale at de Bijenkorf.

Photos by Vincent Kos

Written by Karin Aalberts

SPRMRKT & HTNK'S Dutch Warehouse

2010-07-10T02:34:00.010+02:00

Under it’s own roof SPRMRKT threw an event in collaboration with HTNK. The ground floor of SPR Specials at the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is now home of the pieces of several intriguing designers. For two months the SPR Special clothing has to make room for this pop-up-store concept furnishing the store.

C.CRUDEN

‘I’ve spend one and a half year designing the perfect boyfriend jeans, I was frustrated that women wore those big jeans without any shape, so I wanted to make a boyfriend jeans that accentuates the bottom and shapes it’, thus an excited Sammy Cruden, designer of C.Cruden. Next to the jeans hangs a fabric bag with a plastic holder, ‘My inspiration is everything. I had this idea for a bag and when I was walking my dog I saw this piece of plastic from a bag, the ones you get in a store, I pieced it together and voila’.

It seems that behind every item of this designer lies a story. Even a size ‘none’ (because: unisex) white shirt turns out to be quite remarkable when Cruden tells that it comes with a special dye-kit. When bored of your white shirt, you put on your face mask and transform your shirt in another colour. Also in little boxes available; a leather lace and a button ring. ‘Both are for multiple use, that’s what’s important in my clothing the ability to wear it in different ways’.

CONNY GROENEWEGEN

The style of Conny Groenewegen is described as androgyne and feminine. An odd combination at first but Groenewegen explains how those two can perfectly go together, ‘I see feminine as being vulnerable and dynamic, a woman has to be able to move in her clothing, it’s not about being comfortable but it’s about giving the body room to move. The other side is androgyne, right-angled and strong. Maybe they are the opposites of each other but that makes it so interesting to put them together and create something that is both’.

Groenewegens pieces are a play of feminine and vulnerable versus androgyne and powerful, ‘That’s the most important quality of my clothing, a transparent dress with strong shoulders and big cufflinks’.

ELSIEN GRINGHUIS

The in 2008 at Artez graduated Elsien Gringhuis has a thing for geometric shapes. The black satin shirt she’s wearing is from her own hand, ‘Everything I design has to be something I would want to wear’. The constructed clothes of heavy material appear to be rough but often contain a subtle detail.

Photos by Vincent Kos

Written by Karin Aalberts

Opening DOWNTOWN AIFW

2010-07-10T01:57:00.014+02:00

The usually not so charming neighbor of Maison de Bonneterie, the Olieslagerssteeg, had a big upgrade today at the official opening of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week DOWNTOWN. Instead of being used as a shabby shortcut, the Olieslagerssteeg transformed into an actual catwalk. Carrying a whole lot more than the ordinairy tourist sandals.

Eight designers (Non by Kim, Roparosa, Intoxica, Ado Les Scents by Hyun Yeu, Individuals, Marloes Blaas, Dagmar and Daryl van Wouw) showed notable pieces from their collection to an eager and overheated crowd. Remarkable were the shoesocks of durable fashion pioneer Intoxica by Kentroy Yearwood, that also launches the Green Fashion Competition upcoming Friday the 16^th.

Also the yellow menswear of Ado Les Scents by Hyun Yeu stood out as well as the sharp shapes of Project Catwalk winner Roparosa by Roos van der Kamp.

Hyun Yeu was already known for his daring colors, but seemed to hit a new high with his almost fluorescent yellow blouse. Asking him about his choise for yellow and Maison de Bonneterie he says, ‘it just feels good’. Looking at his clothing for the warehouse, that is by the way now available at Maison de Bonneterie aswell as the pieces of the other designers, that might be just the right description.

The pieces of Roparosa were more modest than the ones we saw on television when she won the television competition Project Catwalk. Explaining that she says, ‘my first collection was a statement collection. That was part one, these are pieces from part two. This part contains more commercial buyable and comfortable pieces that are perfectly suitable for Maison de Bonneterie’. The big shoulders and geometric shapes are still key ingredient to almost all of her pieces, ‘I want to make well-made and comfortable clothing as well as powerdressing’. Roparosa’s new collection named ‘Come out and play’ is released July 18^th and the name for the collection is one to take literally, ‘I wanted to make outside clothing that screams that thought’.

‘I’m sweating only looking at these clothes’ was a not so strange comment when looking at the pieces Individuals put together for Maison de Bonneterie. Considering the unusual tropical heat that is harassing the entire country, wool and coats don’t seem to be the most appealing treats. Nevertheless the pieces are stunning as usual, ‘The clothing suits Maison de Bonneterie, the students that designed this collection made amenable and wearable pieces’, tells Loek Coerwinkel of Individuals.

That’s how it’s done. A truly inspiring and successful (despite the lack of a permit to create a catwalk in an alley, none of the models were chased by the police) opening event. Bon apetit, fashion-eating folks.

Photos by Vincent Kos

Written by Karin Aalberts

SIS by Spijker & Spijkers

2010-06-03T18:24:00.002+02:00

Great news! The schedule isn't released yet but we can already inform you that Spijkers & Spijkers will open AIFW at the ANB AMRO Openingsoiree! They will present their new line: SIS by Spijkers & Spijkers!

AIFW recap

2010-05-02T12:49:00.003+02:00

Bibi van der Velden – Wearable Pieces of Art

2010-02-01T00:49:00.009+01:00

…...

This is me speechless.
Everything about the closing show of Amsterdam International Fashion Week, sponsored by Samsung LadyPhone, was just perfect. Jewellery designer (no: ARTIST) Bibi van der Velden produced an absolutely breathtaking collection. And not only that, the whole concept of the show was amazing: the models, the music but most of all the lighting. As the whole room was slowly filled with smoke, a huge spotlight suddenly lit the room creating this surreal, hologram-like, smoky bundle of light in which the models one by one appeared. The whole setting created a magical, powerful, cinematic image that amazed the audience; I sure heared a lot of ‘oe’ and ‘aah’ in my surroundings!

It is hard to explain the pieces that make this collection, because they can not be pinpointed as ‘necklaces’ or ‘bracelets’. They can better be defined as headpieces, armours and blown up jewellery pieces, or as the designer described them herself: wearable pieces of art.

We saw shoulders decorated by giant ‘shoulders pats’ (did Lady GaGa already see these?) and unbelievable necklaces of glass bubbles. There were silver headpieces resembling the shape of headphones and one model’s head was completely covered by decorative stones, creating a fashionable Damien Hirst-like artwork.

Bibi van der Velden experimented with glass, bronze and stones among other materials to create exclusive, hand-made pieces for this show. Some designs can be described as glamorous, others as futuristic or extravagant: but they were all mind-blowing and innovative for sure!

It was amazing to see how the designer used her experience as a sculptor to create these artpieces. One could also tell that her inspiration comes from travelling around the world: African and Asian influences give an extra twist to the designs. She also seemed to be inspired by knights: traditional armours and headpieces that used to protect the body were now translated into beautiful, futurustic jewellery like an amazing armour-like belt and headpiece resembling the medieval body-protection.

Bibi van der Velden is an absolutely unique designer: the standing ovation she received from the audience after she came out with topmodel Yvke Sturm was so well-deserved!

Like I said: this was pure perfection. A perfect closure to a week filled with the most exciting, innovative and beautiful runway shows. Thanks to all the sponsors, designers, organisation, designers, models, producers, visitors and everybody else this was again a very successful Amsterdam International Fashion Week. Get ready for AIFW Summer 2010!

Merle Deterink and her new Samsung phone

Photos by Aram Goudsmit, except first and last photo by Maria Rudnaya

Written by Lisa Goudsmit

The People & The Party, Part Deux

2010-02-01T00:35:00.010+01:00

Photos by Maria Rudnaya

Replay

2010-01-31T20:19:00.009+01:00

Replay has been a household name for years already, but they are still improving themselves every season. Tonight they showed their new collection in a packed room: "Seattle sound, grunge style, mixing and matching, comfort and love for details are the key concepts for Fall/Winter 2010-11”.

With their specialty being denim of course, it was clear where the main focus was on. Jeans were shown in many ways: baggy, slim and cargo shapes, but also long jeans, skirts, jackets and very short hotpants. The classic indigo blue is mostly dark, but as always Replay showed some innovative washes and amazing details. Studs are still popular, as the label keeps on rocking their street-smart and cool style.

Denims were combined with plaited skirts and tops and floral patterns for women: feminine but still tough. The cowboy-look was clearly still a source of inspiration, combined with motorcycle elements like leather jacket and studded (thigh) boots. Cardigans with Alaska-style knitwear added to the wintery feel of the outfits.

The menswear collection had the same edgy character as the female version with plaited shirts, motor jackets and army print cardigans. All outfits were strong, powerful and nicely styled, as we expect it to be of this high-standard brand.

The audience seemed to love every bit of it, especially when the last model made her appearance: the well-known Victoria’s Secret face Ana Beatriz Barros. Replay did it a again: a strong, exciting high-quality collection.

Photos by Aram Goudsmit

Written by Lisa Goudsmit

I want a Beick Bike!

2010-01-31T17:26:00.008+01:00

Spotted outside the runway venue: Beicks. The new concept from Beick is a combination of ingenious and contemporary design, which allows customers to create their own bike online from a choice of more than 5 million different variations. Everything from handlebars to saddle and from tyres to luggage carriers can be individually picked, always creating a truly unique bike. After choosing your design you can always continue to update your Beick.

We love it. We want one. Pink with flowers and glitters. Now.

Merle Deterink of AIFW with her Beick