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

Show report: The Red Rail

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

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

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

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

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

'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.