DFF Prelude: Mattijs Catwalk Fashion Show SS10

By Ivo Wiermans

It’s time for change! And we don’t refer to the legendary words spoken by Obama, but to the atmosphere at Prelude. You know, the seasonal event on the eve of Amsterdam Fashion Week, where young Dutch fashion talents show their newest collections. The young designers at Prelude brought a unanimous message. Long-lasting designs, with a focus on shape and excelling with simplicity, showed a new generation of designers that prefers high quality to short-term fashions

In the courtyard of hotel The Grand, Mattijs van Bergen was first to show his collection for spring/summer 2010. The designer, who is well-known for his elegant plissé dresses, chose to focus on shape. There were dresses like oversized shirts, outfits with big shoulders and couture-like jackets. Pleated elements were subtly converted in necklaces, blouses and lapels and more striking in beautiful pink, red and purple evening dresses. Outstanding pieces looked like waterfalls because of the draped fabrics. The collection felt relaxed and more wearable without lacking the elegant style in which Mattijs excels.

DFF Prelude: Catta Donkersloot & Sjaak Hullekes Presentation SS10

By Ivo Wiermans

It’s time for change! And we don’t refer to the legendary words spoken by Obama, but to the atmosphere at Prelude. You know, the seasonal event on the eve of Amsterdam Fashion Week, where young Dutch fashion talents show their newest collections. The young designers at Prelude brought a unanimous message. Long-lasting designs, with a focus on shape and excelling with simplicity, showed a new generation of designers that prefers high quality to short-term fashions

In the hotel lobby of The Grand Catta Donkersloot presented her collection, which was inspired by poppy flowers and summer birds. The feeling of a warm and romantic summer resulted in graceful ribbon-covered dresses, some decorated with bird prints. The models were draped at the lobby furniture, looking like taken away by a sunny day dream.
Inside one of the hotel’s most impressive rooms, the fashion show by Sjaak Hullekes took place. The collection covered preppy outfits with Riviera-like pieces: shorts, chinos, blazers and polo shirts. Accessories and other small details were both surprising and delicate. Small leather belts covered shirts, very short shorts had fringes at the legs and male models wore bow ballerinas. ‘I want to create a new androgyny in fashion,’ explained Hullekes after the presentation. ‘With small I want to give a new impulse to classic men’s fashion.’ The items and colour palet – bright pink, beige and brown – had a vintage look. ‘My menswear has a vintage edge, but when you come closer you’ll see the renewing materials and high quality’, Hullekes concludes.

DFF Prelude: Conny Groenewegen Catwalk Fashion Show SS10

By Ivo Wiermans

It’s time for change! And we don’t refer to the legendary words spoken by Obama, but to the atmosphere at Prelude. You know, the seasonal event on the eve of Amsterdam Fashion Week, where young Dutch fashion talents show their newest collections. The young designers at Prelude brought an unanimous message. Long-lasting designs with a focus on shape and excelling with simplicity showed a new generation of designers that prefers high quality to short-term fashions.

In the wedding chamber we experienced the presentation of Conny Groenewegen’s spring collection. It was a true experience,  instead of models ballet dancers showed some disproportional outfits in old blue and green. They looked like wide pyjamas and oversized shirts people wear at home. The dancer’s moves showed how clothes can be comfortable and graceful at the same time.
On the catwalk in the courtyard the show continued. There were more asymmetrical pieces, made of ingeniously woven, knitted and perforated materials. Conny too puts focus on shape and volume. Draped satins held together by buttons, ribbons or zippers looked both happy and elegant. A closer look to the used materials, shows the outstanding craftsmanship of this promising designer.

Amsterdam Prelude Catwalk Fashion Shows FW09

Shows from: Catta Donkersloot, Conny Groenewegen, Marcha Huskes, Mattijs, Sjaak Hullekes and Sebastic.

Dutch Fashion Foundation: Prelude AW09

The fourth edition of Prelude was actually the unofficial kick start of Amsterdam International Fashion Week. This fashion-salon – initiated by the Dutch Fashion Foundation and Mercedes Benz – presents fresh, new Dutch fashiontalents. And we really experienced some fresh fashion! Like the debut of Sebastic, with his sensitive menswearcollection focused on shirts and pullovers in powdery colours. Sjaak Hullekes is also a promising mensweardesigner, with his tough collection were casual meets formal. Other contributors were Mada van Gaans (great dresses with beautiful ornaments), Conny Groenwegen (satin dresses & subtile knitwear) and Corné Gabriels. Now that’s a guy to watch! His weather-inspired menswearcollection was witty and stylish, especially those beautiful pullovers with digital prints of clouds, thunder and rain. He made us very happy!

Hullekes

Conny Groenewegen

Corne Gabriels

Mada van Gaans

Sebastic