Claes Iversen

Claes Iversen is the Fashion Week golden child. Each season he presents completely stunning women's wear with a personal message. This time he portrayed his progression into 'professional maturity', in contrast to his yearning to withhold his inner-child. This was clearly visualized within his collection by prim burgundy wovens which deconstructed to reveal nude crisp organza's and sparkly flower-appliques.

Odd dashes of simple navy velvet, made my mouth water; the simplest of dresses executed immaculately are the most divine!

Claes's tasteful colour palette was peachy in nudes, apricots, plums and the mentioned navy's. In typical Claes-style his show-piece was a prodigy in itself; a blushing white bride completely constructed out of price-tags.. Is this Claes maturely acknowledging the value of his work?

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

LEW

Kim Leemans and Merel Wicker are design-duo LEW, who house a former gay-bar in Amsterdam city centre. This was also the stage for their collection presentation this Fashion Week.

From the outside it was slightly unsettling, a dodgy broken-down building. The stairwell wasn't much better with creaking floorboards and flaking walls. LEW's level was a few flights up and also featured the flaky walls and grunge, but in comparison to the entrance, was somehow an idyllic setting where the beautiful clothing seemed to affect its environment -almost like watching your favourite band play in a garage.

LEW's collection was a continuation of their Spring/Summer '10 designs with a comparable pattern derived from BlueBoy's (the gaybar's) mouldy walls. The colours nevertheless were more vibrant, reminiscent to a painting that Merel made herself.

Merel: "We never really perceive a collection to be finished, and instead continuously evolve our work."

In addition to their designs, the duo presented geometric accessories that contrasted perfectly with their psychedelic prints and shoe designer Lieke de Koning presented her graduation collection.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

Collection Arnhem

Collectie Arnhem is a label by the Artez fashion department. Each season third-year students deliver a collection from the drawing board, to production and sales. One of the 23 students to design this year's collection is Anne Bosman. He explained that the school has partnered with specialized textiles manufacturer Vlisco for this collection.

Vlisco is a Dutch company that is located in Helmond and surprisingly produces unique wax-textiles for the Western-African market. Through special printing techniques, where wax is applied to stop dyes seeping through the fabric, Vlisco enables double-sided printing, necessary in West-African dress.

Collectie Arnhem provided an unusual combination of African prints (and music) with lady-like, almost housewife-inspired designs in 'proper' beiges, navy and emeralds.

Anne: "With our collection we aim to raise a new kind of 'correctness'. One of my colleagues told us about his grandmother, who would for example only wear a blue jacket with a blue blouse on blue pants. We wanted to take that version of 'correctness' into this era, it is correctness 2010."

Anne also explained that there are many rules and norms within West-African dressing that allowed the students' concept to further snowball. "Whereas for example West-Africans always use six yards of material for upperwear, we created comparable 'regulations' for the lengths of sleeve and skirt hems".

Whether it is in-depth in concept or creative in execution, Collectie Arnhem has triumphed again.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

Non by Kim

Kim Bakker is a Dutch men's wear designer and a fashion design lecturer at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. Kim searches to break the boundaries within men's wear in her collections, and soes so by using exciting materials and playing with the traditional 'roles' that certain clothing garments / styles play.

Her autumn/winter collection '10/'11 was inspired by Norwegian south-pole explorer, Roald Amundsen who ventured through the Antarctic in 1911.

As frost-bitten models frontiered the runway with icy-eyes and sturdy (Vagabond) boots, it became clear that they could also survive the freezing polar climates.

Kim's collection combined beautiful thick knits with layers of jersey and waxed cotton. The latter of which produced almost cardboard-looking materials fitted into casual-cool men's jackets.

Kim: "I continually aim to redesign men's clothing and always search for new wearable garments, such as woollen 'house-pants', which I derived from woollen upperwear."

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

Fortis Bank Fasterclass

(pictured above is Merle Deterink, the director at AIFW)

It's the fourth season that Fortis Bank Nederland is the main sponsor at Amsterdam International Fashion Week, and the third time that it's holding its Fashion Fasterclass. The Fashion Fasterclass is an educational program for young fashion talents that brings creativity and a commercial mindset together.

Astrid de Craen, the senior press officer at Fortis explained that 15 talented fashion designers participate with the program. Astrid: "Topics discussed are meant to help the designers understand the business aspects within fashion. Examples of such are financing and intellectual property."

Designers who have participated in the Fashion Fasterclass are: Malousebastiaan, Antoine Peters, Mada van Gaans, Mattijs van Bergen, Glue Jeans, Ignoor, Intoxica, Ontfront, Merel Boers, Herenvankoster, Jessica Joyce, Non by Kim, Omar Munie Clothing and Massuniq.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

Supertrash

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

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CORNÉ RIJNEVELD

Camilla Norrback

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

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Sacha Golden Heel Award

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Mada van Gaans

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

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Quoc Thang

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

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Individuals

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

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Malousebastiaan

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

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

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

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

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

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

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Karssenberg & Greidanus

Everyone has had a bit of a punkrock / deathmetal phase in their fashion lives. Mine was the embarrassing kind, with ripped-up jeans, poorly dyed hair and sabotaged slayer shirts.

Karssenberg & Greidanus are certainly pulling off their phase with a lot more finesse; black sweeping designs with intricate and edgy body-jewellery were met with extravagant layers of leather. My absolute favourite (of the whole day) were their studded cloaks.

Leather wraps were adorned with chains and beautiful billowing knits were skewered with metal rods.

Some of the deconstructed materials showed a slight Rodarte-resemblence, but in contrast with sturdy leather and intricate metalwork became statement Karssenberg & Greidanus!

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Elsien Gringhuis

The last time I remember trembling in my seat was during Iris van Herpen's impressive fashion show last winter.

Elsien Gringhuis's collection belted down the runway with an equally eardrum-affecting momentum. And with two prestigious awards on her name, Best Avant Garde 2008 and the Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana award for most creative collection, Elsien doesn't have to joke around.

This winter collection is strict, structured, clean and modern with a monotonous colour scheme of blacks, greys and whites. Whereas the models had some shoe-struggles (and three were forced to kick their heels and stomp on their socks), there was no messing with the contemporary and architectural structures which were sent down the runway.

Through the progression of the show, the approachability of the designs increased. Although I still found it hard to imagine the touch business woman that would don a Gringhuis outfit, I was soon abet by Elsien herself; she received a warm and worthy applause wearing a dress from the collection, and proved the wearability of her designs looking sophisticated and effortless.

A strong woman, with a strong vision on contemporary design.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT
PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Fong Leng - book launch

Each decade there are only a handful of designers, whose influences are felt nationwide. In the 70's and early 80's Carla Maria Fong Leng Tsang was that designer in the Netherlands.

Her designs were sometimes unique artworks and other times, equally unique couture pieces, produced a mere three times. Although her prices could reach tens of thousands of guilders a pop, Fong Leng explains that several months work went into each piece, making them actually very reasonably priced.

Fong Leng: "Although I know that Dutch people easily find things to be too expensive"

Her feisty personality quickly became apparent during the launch of her monograph published by Jonge Honden, as she quickly corrected fashion lecturer (and Dutch fashion expert) José Teunissen and was met by ample giggles from the fashion-celebrity-filled crowd.

When questioned on her opinion of Dutch fashion today, Fong Leng encouraged young designers to work hard and follow their hearts, and said to be excited to see some of the shows.

With her opinion about the Dutch shopping streets on the other hand, she expressed a slither of dismay.

Fong Leng: "In my time, the PC Hooftstraat was much more exciting, there were small unique shops showcasing individuals' skills. The shops now make me lose my appetite, although you can get an excellent lunch on the PC."

Although she isn't visible in brick and mortar on Holland's most exclusive shopping street, her major influence on designers today is still apparent, with tributes and acknowledgement from designers with the likes of Francisco van Benthum and Viktor & Rolf.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

The Present Past

Marloes Blaas isn't a stranger to fashion week, having presented a collection during Lichting 2007 and Fashion Institute Arnhem's show in summer 2009.

The small collection she presented today was nevertheless her independent debut.

Marloes: "Whereas the practical nature of the Dutch can often be frustrating for fashion designers, I embrace it in my work (..) I design clothing for women like myself, and I have a practical mindset too."

Marloes's signature is already shining through her collections, with fluid lines and feminine designs. In contrast to the soft and flattering materials she uses in her clothing, she shows sturdy leather accessories, derived from craftsmanship and originally practical professions.

The natural palette of her collections last season consisted of forest greens, burgundy and dots of fuchsia. This season was natural browns, beiges and a shot of cobalt blue to stirr things up. The trousers in her collection were gorgeous and embodied casual-french-chique in my opinion.

Sound good? Marloes retails through Soepboer & Stooker on Overtoom 9 in Amsterdam.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

Highspeed Folklore

Last summer I fell in love with Linda Valkeman's diverse and varied collection with its many designs, which reflected her chaotic personality. Each look in that collection had a name that illustrated the different sides of chaos, 'I like to make a statement', 'I like to be baloonesk', 'I like to be a white swan', are examples of such.

Linda mentions finding structure in the beauty of chaos in her collections, and this season's designs were surprisingly cohesive in contrast to her previous work. Linda's palette was pale and fragile, with intricate detailing and an enormous array of used materials. As a 'traveller of the world' her nomadic lifestyle was a main influence for this collection.

Linda: "I am fascinated by the timelessness of the things I collect. As very different worlds collide in my designs, the search for the clash is crucial."

I found 'Highspeed Folklore' to be slightly less wearable than her graduation collection, which was presented last season at Fashion Institute Arnhem's show, but where it lacked in commerciality it made up for in amazing detail, with stunning handwork and amazing material-usage.

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SYRETT

PHOTOGRAPHY CHELSEA SYRETT

MATTIJS

Wow, wow, wow, I don’t know where to start telling about MATTHIJS his collection. Let’s start with the beginning, his target was to blew new life into fourties couture (he took Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth as source of inspiration) and that did he do very well.
I love the way his clothes accentuate feminity. All the clothes were perfectly executed and I still get happy when I see all the ‘plissé’s’. The waist-line belt was an accessory that kept popping up. The colour palette was from red to seagreeen to black with golden accents. There were a flexible pencil skirt, a-symmetric cocktaildresses, short jackets with inside out seams and a an overcoat with feathers. I would like to have it all!

Painted A M U S E

A muse is a muse is a muse
A person to believe in
To treasure
To see the beauty of
To follow by skin
Muse yourself and be a muse to us

This text comes with the presentation of the ‘Painted’ collective led by Saskia van Drimmelen, Desirée Hammen and Margreet Sweerts. Their strength is to develop garments in which handwritings of various makers are united. They make use of crafts like needlepoint lace from Bulgaria and beadwork of the Assiniboine tribe from Northern America. Making clothes in a playfull way is what they are standing for. And that also worked great out with their presentation, with people with various ethnicities performing on a gymcord.

Jan Taminiau: Duality

Tonight, the kick off of the official catwalk programme of Amsterdam Internation Fashion Week took place. Two shows and one ongoing exhibition between them, a lot to see! Jan Taminiau opened the evening with his sparkling show. He is the only Dutch designer who also showed at Paris Fashion Week, last weekend.

At the first shown outfit I felt in love immediately, totally my style, over the top cocktail gowns with a lot of sparkles, glitters and star sequins. Those –pretty tight- gowns mostly came in gold, silver, more gold and more silver!

The silhouette was ultra short. Dresses with big cut outs in the back, as well as off shoulder and strapless designs, or created with big shoulders but all very very short. Equally impressive were the shoes. With a small cut out at the back of the heel totally fresh and edgy.

All the models had to do a special pose in front of the camera, and then there’s was a ‘click’ photo sound. After the cocktaildresses there came two fabulous wedding dresses and my heart began to bounce even more. His collection, called Duality, was live streamed on the internet.