SIS by Spijkers & Spijkers Backstage AIFW SS2012
It was a bright and sunny collection at SIS by Spijkers & Spijkers actually. The Dutch duo had the honor to open this edition of Amsterdam International Fashion Week. The models looked like glamorous beachqueens in their 20’s inspired outfits, hair and make-up. Faces were kept natural, with wet look lashes and long diva-like hair.
Which crew are you? Team Peter Stigter at AIFW
July 13, 2011 by Jetty
Filed under AIFW, Amsterdam, Events, Fashion Professionals, Featured Items, People, Snapshots, Team
This edition of AIFW we would like to introduce the different crews behind the scenes. Without them this fashionweek would not work that smooth. No music, no food, no live stream video, no press-releases. Let’s start with our own crew: Team Peter Stigter.
From left to right: Joris Bruring, Peter Stigter, Tess van Daelen, Nick Helderman, Jetty Ferwerda, Jeannette Huisman, Inez Koopman, Jon Loek, Niels vd Top and Lisa Klappe
It’s Amsterdam Fashion week and it’s raining
July 13, 2011 by Joris
Filed under AIFW, Amsterdam, Featured Items, Streetwear
Oh no! You carefully picked your outfit for the opening soiree of the Amsterdam Fashion Week tonight but now it’s raining! What to wear now? Get some inspiration from the outfits we spotted in rainy Milan, Paris, New York or London below.
Preview AIFW – Pauline van Dongen
July 13, 2011 by Jetty
Filed under AIFW, Amsterdam, Fashion, Featured Items, Preview, womenswear
While traveling from London to Rome and Amsterdam she kept multiple To do lists in the past weeks just to make sure all preparations for her show would be done in time. So with just a few days until that show everything seems to fall in place just right. And Pauline van Dongen’s first Amsterdam Fashion Week fashion show is most likely to become a success.
The collection Pauline will be showing is called Kinetic Landscapes and tells the story of subtle changes in nature made by the power of water and air, which can only be noticed after many decades. Like the remarkable traces of waves and sand on rocks and stones.
“Through this inspiration the collection shows my sculptural signature and experimental approach of shape and materials. I used lines and waves to create movement in my designs as well. I find it fascinating that wind and air can create soft and fluent shapes on such large and solid parts of nature.”
“I was inspired by the natural phenomena ‘The Wave’ in Arizona and thus opted for shades of that specific place like orange, cobalt blue, white, grey and black. A reflecting kind of knitwear and a springy sort of pleated knitwear represent the fluent and reflecting aspect of water in my creations.”
But better than to speak about Pauline’s designs we should watch them. Preferable on the runway while they’re being worn by models. ‘Cause, Pauline says, “I love to see my work on a moving body in stead of on a static object. The woman body gives my designs their outspoken shape and volume.”
Pauline van Dongen will show her collection on 14 July at 8 p.m.
What to Wear to AIFW? Get some inspiration
July 12, 2011 by Jetty
Filed under AIFW, Amsterdam, Events, Featured Items, People, Streetwear
Still in doubt what to wear during the Amsterdam International Fashion Week? Don’t worry, we’ve got some inspiration for you fresh from the streets of the ever stylish Milan. Please don’t let the rain affect your choice, bring a nice umbrella and raincoat, flash your outfit and we will picture it. This edition we will select the best/original/interesting/fashionable streetfashion for our blog, but we will post all the outfits taken during the day at our Facebook-page Team Peter Stigter. So get started and push the limits for once.
And remember: we’re not the fashion-police, we just enjoy your personal style. Don’t be shy !
Preview AIFW – SIS by Spijkers en Spijkers SS2012
July 12, 2011 by Jetty
Filed under AIFW, Amsterdam, Fashion, Featured Items, Preview, womenswear
This upcoming edition of the Amsterdam International Fashion Week the twins sisters Riet en Truus Spijkers will be the first to show their SIS collection. We spoke to the sisters about this new collection and what kind of story they will be telling during the opening event.
“We’re very excited to be part of the opening show this season. For us that’s even better than just doing a regular fashion show. It results in a lot of media attention, which is one of the reasons we decided to show during Amsterdam Fashion Week. More media coverage results in more requests for our collection and that’s always good.”
It’s only one year ago that Spijkers en Spijkers launched it’s little sister SIS, yet so far the new line is doing great. “We are getting applications for the collections from abroad as well. SIS is now being sold in countries like Italy, Japan and Australia.”
As for the new summer collection we can expect nothing but summery/sunny clothing. “The collection is sunny, optimistic and a little naughty. The theme is Bain du Soleil. Again it will have some twenties references, which we also used in our music. The soundtrack will be modern but with a definite twenties twist.”
Like in every collection the sisters chose a certain woman as their female muse for the collection. “This time Olympic swimmer Zus Braun gave the designers their inspiration. Due to that the collection has some slightly sporty details in it, but mostly done in a very feminine way.”
“The clothes will have a tight fit and come in colors like rose, pistachio, amber and nautical blue. There are some bright Au Bain de Soleil prints as well. We used cotton, crêpe de chine and some very comfy jerseys. It’s just a fun collection, so we’re very much looking forward to the show.”
SIS by Spijkers en Spijkers will be shown on Wednesday evening 13 July at 6.30 p.m.
Preview AIFW – Sage & Ivy SS2012
July 11, 2011 by Jetty
Filed under AIFW, Amsterdam, Fashion, Featured Items, Preview, womenswear
The Sage & Ivy fashion show is part of the official Amsterdam International Fashion Week program for the first time this season. Yet, as designer Alexia van Engelen tells us, the label is still giving the audience something different…
“When we were approached by the AIFW if we wanted to join the official schedule, we had one condition: we still wanted to be able to create our own little Sage & Ivy world around the show. We didn’t want to use just an ordinary, plain, white catwalk. We discussed all possibilities and are now showing the new Sage & Ivy collection near the pond of the Westergasterrein. This means the models are going to be walking on a catwalk build over water. We’re very excited”
And though the concept alone is already interesting, water has a special meaning in Alexia’s new collection too. “The collection is called hemisphere and is inspired by water. Yet not in an too obvious matter. You’ll see the water in reflections, the golden color it creates when the sun sets, the many colors that appear when the sun shines at it and the transparency of water.”
These diverse sides of water are brought to live in a two sided collection. “On one side it shows Greek influences like draping, braiding and lots of volume. On the other side you’ll see day wear with a seventies vibe (high pants and accentuated shoulders). Bianca Jagger really was the inspiration for this since she used to mix those two styles together in her impeccable looks.”
The whole Sage & Ivy collection consists of 24 looks, all handcrafted in small studios in Belgium and Germany (no longer in Morocco, like before). The fabrics as well as the colors of the collection breath femininity. “We used shades like light pink, light green, grey, gold and some degrade. All looks were made from materials like jersey, lace, chiffon, organza, satin, cotton and a special wool melange. There are many feminine pieces in the collection but in the show we will always combine a very feminine, elaborating item with a more simple and cool (almost manly) piece. Just wait and see…”
The Sage & Ivy show will be held on Friday 15 July at 8 p.m.
Preview AIFW – Quoc Thang SS2012
With his new collection of menswear (Quoc Thang has been making menswear for the past 1,5 years) Quoc Thang is about to head into a whole new direction. It will be his third time presenting his collection during Amsterdam International Fashion Week and he couldn’t be more excited.
AIFW
“Presenting my work during fashion week is a great way to reach a big audience. Perhaps it doesn’t directly result in making a lot of money, but artistically it’s the right thing to do.”
Adventurer
Thang’s new collection tells the story of an adventurer defying cold area’s in search of security and safety. “It’s called A Place Over There (Een Plek Daarginds in Dutch) and – like all my collections so far – it has something to do with the vulnerability and transitory of life. My inspiration comes from conversations, exhibitions and every day things. I always write things down.”
Shades & fabrics
“The new collection is pretty silent when it comes to color. We used multiple blues and greys and a touch of green here and there. The designs are made of fabrics like high tech nylon and wool. We also used a waxed cotton, which we’re very proud of since it’s hard to get.”
Changes
“Everything will be completely different; our strategy, our philosophy and the way we built up the collection. We used the 3 x 3 x 3 concept, based on the idea of a pair of pants, a top and a jacket.” It might sound somewhat vague right now, but according to Thang everyone will immediately be able to see the changes he made during the show.
Thang’s motivation to head into this new direction seems reasonable: “We noticed the big audience wasn’t really getting our collections when we showed them. We – and I think fashion in general – are ready for something new.”
And with just a few days ahead before the show Quoc Thang couldn’t be more prepared. “Our collection is completely ready, so we’re not worrying about time. I’ve done this a few times now so I now the ropes.”
Quoc Thang will present his collection on Saturday 16 July at 6 p.m.
