Streetfashion Kingpins Show Amsterdam

What are they wearing during the international fashion weeks? A bespoke Denham, that vintage Levi’s or their latest Diesel jeans? During the year we refresh our streetwear posts irregularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: The Kingpins Show Amsterdam.

The winner of Global Denim Awards 2016: Anbasja Blanken & ITV Denim

The third edition of the Global Denim Awards, made possible by e3 cotton, was electrifying. In the presence of nearly 600 denim professionals from all over the world, a jury of international denim experts selected Dutch designer Anbasja Blanken and Italian mill ITV Denim as the winning collaboration for this year’s Best Collection Award. Indian mill Arvind walks away with the Best Fabric Award.

With 11 mills and designers involved this year, the Global Denim Awards has almost doubled its number of participants since debuting in 2014. The quality of the competing collections this year was extremely high. It is safe to say that within the three years of its existence, the Global Denim Awards has grown into the premier platform for denim design, sustainability and craftsmanship.

GDA 2016 paired emerging fashion designers with a selection of the most progressive denim mills worldwide, in order to co-create elaborate and inspired capsule collections.The collections showcased the collaborators’ combined craftsmanship, original designs, and denim innovation. The collections were then judged by an international jury of denim industry experts, comprised of the designer and best-selling author of Denim Dudes Amy Leverton, the designer/stylist duo Art Comes First, trendhunter and self-confessed denim junkie Kelly Harrington, and the global sales director of Scotch & Soda Alex Jaspers.

The winning collection came from designer Anbasja Blanken and mill ITV Denim. Euphoric winner Blanken explains: “My concept was about the deep sea, and more specifically coral, the ‘flowers of the sea’. Some coral’s colours alternate when the light changes. It can even be luminescent. What if my denim pieces produced light themselves?” To honour her inspiration, ITV created glow in the dark denim fabric especially for Blanken. Barbara Gnutti of ITV Denim adds: “It was not easy but we found a way of putting the luminescence into our yarn.”

Brent Crossland of e3 cotton says:
“To us, it is genuinely exciting to bring these young designers together with the mills, and see them engage in endeavors they normally would not do, expanding their knowledge together. This results in real innovation, that normally I think wouldn’t happen.”

Indian denim mill Arvind won the honorary Best Fabric Award in recognition for its innovative yet traditional fabrics. The Khadi fabrics, which were used by Roosmarijn Koster for her capsule collection, are traditionally handwoven and as authentically Indian as can be. Jury member Amy Leverton said: “To us as a jury, innovation is not only a way of creating new technologies, but it’s also looking back and realising that if we lose the past, we’ll lose it forever. By conserving the past, we are nurturing the future. Arvind supports these villages and its inhabitants to continue creating this traditional denim. Economically that does not make sense. But from a sustainability point of view, it’s invaluable. That’s why the Fabric Award also goes to the mill’s community, not to Arvind alone.”

Co-founder Mariette Hoitink (of HTNK) says: “Global Denim Awards is to me, as a matchmaker in fashion, the best ‘blue love’ match ever made.”

The Global Denim Awards is made possible by e3 Cotton and initiated and organised by HTNK, Kingpins Show and House of Denim. The event coincides with the Amsterdam edition of Kingpins Show.

The winning collection will be exhibited at Kingpins Shows in New York City and Hong Kong, before returning to the Netherlands for Amsterdam Denim Days 2017.

WOMENSWEAR TREND FW2016: Soft & Shiny

It might not be the most flattering of all fabrics, yet that hasn’t stopped satin from becoming one of the biggest fall/winter trends. The soft & shiny fabric appeared at plenty of catwalk shows, from Anderson to Westwood. From tough and tomboyish at Louis Vuitton to girly and costum-y at Gucci. If PJ’s and party dresses are your thing, best make sure you opt for some satin ones. And when it comes to the styling part two rules apply. 1. Don’t wear your satin too tight. 2. Some shapewear will help. Now the hardest thing is to get through the day without your outfit getting completely wrinkled or worse, torn. Satin is delicate and should be treated that way. No wonder it has always been more of a bedroom fabric. No rough partying then eh? Oh well, you can always decide to sleep in that pastel shaded Lanvin dress.

MOAM Catwalk Fashion Show 2016

MOAM is back for her third edition, MOAM 3.0. After two successful editions in EYE and Rijksmuseum, MOAM collective started with a new group of five designers. These talented designers have all graduated from different academies and worked together on one collection. This collective has been coached by iconic names from the fashion industry.

The designers
In this third edition of MOAM collective, MOAM has given a platform to Christiaan de Vries (AMFI), Elysanne Schuurman (HKU), Olivier Jehee (KABK), Maartje Janse (ArtEZ) and Nikki Duijst (KABK). They were weekly coached by three pioneers from the fashion industry: Frans Ankoné, Mariette Hoitink and Peter Leferink. Next to them this edition was also coached by Claes Iversen, Dieter de Cock, Fiona Hering, Iris Ruisch, Jan Jansen, Jan Taminiau, Maison the Faux, Mart Visser, Pauline van Dongen, Ronald van der Kemp and Saskia Stoeckler.

The process
In six months time this collective has worked closely together on a collection consisting of 25 looks for men and women. The designers received complete creative freedom and where responsible from first sketch to final catwalk show. In this process they where coached by professionals from the Dutch creative industry. The keystones for this process are talent development and passing knowledge from the current generation on to the new.
Hotelier and old clothing tailor Krasnapolsky invited this new generation of MOAM designers to host the catwalk show in de renewed ‘Wintertuinen’. This location fits this years design concept perfectly. With overlapping traits like; heritage, innovation and typical Amsterdam elements this was a collaboration made in heaven.

WOMENSWEAR TREND FW2016: Let’s Lurex

As soon as the kids go back to school glittery fashion re-enters the stores. With all winter festivities coming up we can focus on glittery outfits and sparkly accessories again. And even though sparkling clothing is never a surprise for fall/winter this year around all that glitters is slightly different from last year. A highly glittery metallic fabric has popped up in many designers collections. Lurex love all around. Whether you’re off to a good night of disco dancing or presenting your company’s annual report; lurex is bound to give you that extra dazzling sparkle. It lit up the catwalks of Pucci, Costume Nationale, Dolce & Gabbana and Vionnet. And not just in the typical black, silver, gold palette. The models at Missoni and Jil Sander looked mesmerizing in their pastel shaded lurex. As Balenciaga and Isabel Marant opted for bright blue and red. Glam it up for the new season. Let’s lurex.

WOMENSWEAR TREND FW2016: Playful Pleats

Ever since Alessandro Michele re-introduced the pleated skirt it’s been gaining popularity. And not just the skirt made a huge comeback, pleats are having a major moment in more varieties. On a shiny metallic red Ralph Lauren dress for instance. Or as attached to a Salvatore Ferragamo skirt, as a nice bright colored detail. Oh and let’s not leave aside how much elegance and glamour those pleats added to that chocolate colored Valentino dress. Was the pleated skirt ever solely worn as a school uniform (kinda boring), for autumn it fits in with just about any girls wardrobe. Have you seen Bottega Veneta, Diesel, Givenchy and Fendi’s interpretations? Accordion style. Let’s play around with pleats.

Streetfashion PFW Womenswear SS2017, Day 8

What are you wearing during the fashionweeks? Your Gucci-shoes, that vintage Prada or your latest Vetements-denim? Maybe we’ll spot you in Paris, Milan, New York or Amsterdam. During the fashionweeks we refresh our streetwear posts regularly. We don’t judge, we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy fashion and your own personal style. Next stop: Paris Womenswear Fashion Week spring/summer 2017.

Paris Fashion Week SS2017 Trend Round-up

We’re slowly getting back to our daily routine, picking up our ordinary fashion jobs. Far away from the cities that sequentially sizzled with fashion for a good uninterrupted four weeks. And while the rhythm of fashion week is slowly leaving our system we look back one more time at what Paris Fashion Week had to offer us. Practical wear and oversized suiting (Céline) definitely formed a SS2017 PFW theme. As did sheer, seductive and rather tacky styles (Lanvin, Chanel). A direct contrast. Like in Milan and New York pink and yellow turned out to influence a big part of the designer’s color scheme as retro prints (Givenchy) and polka dots re-appeared. As far as shapes and silhouettes concerned; loose and boxy is the way to go. And you either opt for strong statement (eighties) shoulders or just the one shoulder (Vetements). When it comes to accessories a super chunky earring (Saint Laurent) can make the difference. Heels are getting higher and bags even smaller (Valentino). Lots to love and to look forward to. Here are 6 trends from Paris to you.

1. Big sleeves
As seen at DeMeulemeester, Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant

2. Nipple gate
As seen at Balmain, Saint Laurent and Lanvin

3. Vibrant pink
As seen at Hermes, Nina Ricci and Valentino

4. Slogan Chic
As seen at Dior, Margiela and Stella McCartney

5. Rather tacky
As seen at Chanel, Haider Ackermann and Saint Laurent

6. One shoulder
As seen at DeMeulemeester, Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant

Miu Miu Catwalk Fashion Show Womenswear Paris SS2017

Oui oui, c’est fini. Miuccia Prada ended a fashion filled month on the happiest note. Sixties style complete with swimwear looks to rock a long summer in Portofino (or any other Italian city by the see). Bright colored, busy printed and fantasy full looks followed each other on the Miu Miu runway. As if those swim caps (and some matching bags) weren’t cheerful enough. Tea dresses were a theme as well as some of the robe-like fur coats in a multicolored palette, that seemed rather hot. Oh well, underneath them models were sporting high waisted bikini shorts, bodices with floral appliques and flip flops. Retro chic with just a touch of modernity. Something to look forward to while autumn has officially arrived and our winter coats can finally have their streetwear moment. Winter is coming, but a joyful summer is just around the corner.

Louis Vuitton Catwalk Fashion Show Womenswear Paris SS2017

Our final day of Paris fashion week started at the second floor of a Place Vendôme venue that is soon to be a Louis Vuitton flagship store. Light and spacious. A fine fit with Nicolas Ghesquière fresh and upbeat collection. A dressed up collection with a twist. After the deconstructed white shirt (that is now everywhere) Ghesquière introduced the deconstructed suit with cut outs and removed slices. Highly unpractical yet just as admirable. Plus the suits worked perfectly with the rest of the rather revealing looks. Like a number of sheer floor sweeping dresses through which both the models lingerie and shoulder pads were visible. As in many of the previous shows shoulders were a big focus point at Louis Vuitton. As were the skinny pants And those ankle booties really worked with every single look. Together with LV’s luxury phone case they might be LV’s little money makers for next season. And there might already be some eager DIY-ers cutting up their grey suit jackets as we speak.

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