Show report: Frans Molenaar Couture Prize

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

Kelder sale @ studio Frans Molenaar

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