Frontrow MBFWA SS018, Day 02

Who was there at MBFWA day 2? Here’s a selection of our front row images from Sophia Bentoh + Sunanda Chandry, Merel van Glabbeek + RE by RECONSTRUCT, Tony Cohen and Lichting.

Lizzy Stuyfzand wins LICHTING 2017


Friday evening, nine o’clock, almost weekend, but not before the Lichting (by FashionWeek Nederland and HTNK fashion recruitment & consultancy) show 2017 has taken place. Once again fourteen talented fashion graduates presented their graduation collections to a jury of both national and international fashion professionals.

Out of those fourteen young new talents that jury picked Lizzy Stuyfzand (ARTEZ) with her “Call me magpie”-collection as the most promising talent in the Netherlands.The jury praised Lizzy for her research in textile and her craftsmanship. By winning this award Lizzy was rewarded with Euro 10.000,- money prize.

The second winner of the night, chosen by the audience, was Sarah Bruylant (AMFI). Sarah received the Audience Favorite Award which included a money price of Euro 3.000,-.

So much talent, such amazing winners, now let’s head over to the bar. Time to celebrate or, for all talents that didn’t take home a price tonight,: cheers to the freakin’ weekend!

Atelier. + Stavreva Kreator Catwalk Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

Cowboy boots, experimental dresses and coats determined the dress code at Atelier. They looked hand painted and hand woven. Inspired by the work of painters and textile design designer Lotte van Dijk added bright paint strokes, blue pearls and extra plastic layers to the mix. Kimono sleeves, an overall, some assymmetrie, a scarf here, a pair of gloves there and we still couldn’t exactly capture the essence of the collection. But it looked original, artisanal and interesting enough to trigger everyone’s curiosity.

Stavrevra Kreator’s story took us all the way back to 1996, tearing it apart and recreating it all over again. The year in which strong shoulders, pinstriped suits and extra special grooming for men were in fashion. We can hardly remember this was the nineties style, but Stavrevra helped refreshing our memory. She had a whole pack of models, the cool gang, who could have walked straight out of that era. They looked cool and careless in their oversized suits, smudged make-up and out of style sunglasses. As they marched the runway as a group one or two looks were highlighted after each other with every single strutt. A fun choreography to watch and an interesting styling game going on for sure. Bang bang!

Tony Cohen Catwalk Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

Together with the sponsor of his show Nivea Tony Cohen came up with a ‘reversible black & white dress’. And the designer added some extra forty something looks. His muse Kim Feenstra opened the show as she appeared in front of the bamboo backdrop. A collection made in a black, white, beige, yellow and golden color palette. With designs ranging from oversized of shoulder beach dresses to tight and shiny mini numbers. An overall loose silhouette (looser than ever before, so it seemed) combined with some east-inspired hairstyles and high, open heels turned Tony’s models into confident, elegant and well dressed girls. A dress should be next summer’s dresscode, if you ask Tony. Whether it’s that reversible black & white number or any other floaty showstoppers.

Sophia Bentoh + Sunanda Chandry Koning Catwalk Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

Togo born print designer Sophia Bentoh presented her eclectic new collection this afternoon. A mix of kaleidoscopic designs styled in the most fun (large jewelry, sunglasses, headscarfs, crowns, dr. Martens and out of the box bags) way. A show both rhythmic and ethnic that felt refreshing, original and fun. Ibileye presents layered prints and pieces for both women and men, for city nomads who dare to stand out with mixed colours and patterns. And these designs will do just that.

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The Sunanda Chandry Koning spoke more of gender blending than of new clothing styles for next summer. The show images say it all.

Merel van Glabbeek + RE by RECONSTRUCT Catwalk Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

MBFWA edition SS2018, this was Day 01

That was a good start of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam, with three amazing shows of Das Leben am Haverkamp, Hackedby Van Slobbe Van Benthum and Bas Kosters.

Bas Kosters Catwalk Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

When Bas Kosters’s name is on the official opening night schedule you just know you’re in for a good time. Known for his colorful, quirky, extravagant designs and over the top fashion shows the young creative has always been able to turn his events into major celebrations of fashion, love and what not. Good vibes only is what you get from attending a Bas Kosters show and tonight was no exception. After two and a half years without fashion shows Bas Kosters made quite the comeback with his carrot celebration. Yes, he presented his latest collection My Paper Crown, made out of recycled 100 flags, but this was not just a fashion show, but half an hour of crazy, happy fashion entertainment.

It started with the runway set-up, which included several working men and women taking care of a typical farm life/simple life. There was a big pile of potatoes (on which Bas sat down during the show, his ode to the potato), there were buckets filled with sunflowers (which were being watered), white wash was hanging out to dry, and the concrete flour of the Gashouder was being swept and wed regularly.

The designs that came out were vibrant and colorful as expected. The colorful flags as well as a colorful block print Bas himself designed in India made up for a showstopping line up. An optimistic line-up of ‘happy’ clothes with which Bas spoke of gay rights, animal rights potatoes and carrots (a replacement for Bas’ previous obsession with penises?).

The make-up was smudged, the head pieces creative, the accessories extravagant (dice earrings, large stuffed animals) and the props simply outstanding (a lit up Bas car filled with exuberant models entered the runway at a certain point). That model’s waving, cheering, smiling and dancing certainly had the right effect on the audience. This was by far the happiest most cheerful fashion show of the week and we happily celebrated Carrot Day along with Bas and his closest friends (numerous familiar and famous faces walked his festive finale).

“I hope you realize you can give something too, the gift of attention, of seeing the other. Be generous! I want to believe that artists and others make this world together.
Be well,
Bas Kosters”

In line with the see now buy now trend Bas sold some of his designs straight after te show. It was a night to remember and probably the best start of a new fashion filled week Amsterdam could have asked for.

Later on this week: the work of the fourteen best fashion students during Lichting, the debute of young talent Sterre Troquay (17) and Politicians walking the runway during Sunday’s Political Catwalk. We’re excited!

Hacked by Van Slobbe Van Benthum Catwalk, Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

Then it was on to the works of designers Alexander van Slobbe and Francisco van Benthum who have worked together since they started their joint project Hacked in 2014. Hacked is a reaction to our fast fashion society, a desire to change the fashion system from the inside out by hacking it’s different parts, one by one. After having focused on brands, the production proces and sale points the designers now thought it was time to tackle the next big thing in the classic fashion infrastructure: fashion week.

Fashion week needs a big transformation, according to Van Slobbe and Van Benthum. So the show was a big shout-out to everyone from inside as well as outside the fashion industry. Letting them know the system doesn’t function anymore and brands can not keep on producing clothes for a target audience that is slowly diminishing and will soon no longer exist.

As a contrast Hacked by_ wants to show it’s approach and focuses on the design, the production proces and the wearer of a certain piece of clothing. Qualities that matter so much more nowadays, instead of the classic fashion show that was still able to seduice it’s audience. It’s about storytelling and Alexander van Slobbe and Francisco van Benthum told a lovely fashion story tonight. That of roomy raincoats, highly desirable (commercial) sweaters, wearable shorts and sporty influences in which not the design’s signature but it’s development and sustainable approach to fashion were key.

Das Leben Am Haverkamp Catwalk Fashion Show MBFWA SS2018

It’s on! The 27th edition of Amsterdam Fashion Week just kicked off with quite a spectacular opening evening. The creative talents behind young label Das Leben am Haverkamp, Bas Kosters and Alexander van Slobbe were the first to present their Dutch design in the Gashouder show area which was fully booked with fashion lovers and professionals.

At around seven Das Leben am Haverkamp had the honor of officially opening this Amsterdam fashion week. The four designers Anouk van Klaveren, Christa van der Meer, Dewi Bekker en Gino Anthonisse, who each run their own indiviual label as well, once again expressed their joint vision on contemporary design and fashion.

Apart from fashion styles or summer trends diversity seemed to be the main message as a large variety of models walked the runway. They were dressed in nothing more than just a pair of briefs, socks and slippers and carried large prints of the outfits the designers picked out for them. Looks that ranged from bathing suits to puffer jackets.

Lots to see in any case in this Quirky Cruise Collection. One that definitely scores high on originality. The diversity of the human bodies that followed up on each other slightly distracted us from focusing on the designs, but it was interesting in any case. And we’d love to see these clothe actually come to life.

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