Claes Iversen Catwalk Fashion Show AFW FW2013

The collection of Claes Iversen in 10 words. Sculptural. Feminine. Elegant. White. Black. Camel. Strong. Mature. Modern. Futuristic.

SIS by Spijkers and Spijkers Catwalk Fashion Show AFW FW2012

The collection of SIS by Spijkers and Spijkers in 10 words: Rock ‘n Roll. Modern classics. Daredevils. Soft & hard. Feminine. Sexy. Fun.

Studio Jux Catwalk Fashionshow AFW FW2013

Studio Jux in 10 words: Sustainable. Sober. Minimal. Innovative. Mustard-yellow. Black. Burgundy. Male & Female. Workwear.

Individuals Catwalk Fashion Show AFW FW2013

This was the 14th collection of Individuals, a seasonal collection made by young creatives. Individuals is an initiative of Amfi, Amsterdam Fashion Institute and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Every season a new group of 24 creative minds starts with the Individuals program. The inspiration comes from a collective translation of the evolving zeitgeist. The collection of 2013 contains pieces which compose a modern day armor. It’s a contemporary solution for ensuring survival in this world.

Black, burgundy and green are the colors of this new uniform, with silver and sparkle as a glamorous but also hi tech touch. The designers played with contrasts: soft and hard fabrics, matte and shiny, loose and fitted, luxurious and sober. A perfect wardrobe to survive in the city.

Collectie Arnhem 2013 Catwalk Fashion Show Amsterdam

ArtEZ Fashion Design showed their fifteenth Collection Arnhem today. 26 Fashion-students at the Arnhem School of the Arts designed the collestion as a team. Their message: I love me, a new vision of the human being by playing with emotions. With the collection  they played a provocative game of contradictions in form, fabric and color. The boundaries between male and female, private and public, good and bad disappeared now and then.

Individuals by AMFI Amsterdam Fashion Week Preview FW2013

For the very first time Individuals by AMFI, a collection designed by student, will have the honor of opening Amsterdam Fashion Week. We caught up with Peter Leferink, Principal Design Lecturer at AMFI and creative Manager of Individuals, to talk about the design process, the collection and the success of Individuals.

About Inviduals
AMFI’s Individuals project is a 6 month minor that BA students at AMFI can take during their third or at the beginning of their fourth and final year. A total of around 24 – 30 students from the 3 different departments Fashion & Design, Fashion & Management and Fashion & Branding together design, produce and deliver to retail a collection for the school’s label Individuals.

Why is it important that Individuals gives a show during Amsterdam Fashion Week?
“First of all it is a big honor. For the students a show at the end of their period with Individuals. Those 12 minutes of fame are quite fundamental to the process. Showing in a professional environment like AFW gives the students such a boost. This year we were asked to open the fashion week, which is the ultimate moment and compliment. It means people take us seriously and appreciate what we do with our students. To me personally it means a lot. The fact that our show is held in the Gashouder is extra special too; when I graduated from the C Montaigne Academy in 1994 with a small group of students we rented the same Gashouder for our show. At that time we felt it was the coolest spot in Amsterdam, I believe we had to pay 400 Gulden for it. Being able to see our students shine there as well makes it very special.”

What is the most important aspect of holding a show?
“If you bring it down to the basics a show is a form of PR. You want to reach the press, the retailers and your audience. Yet as a school we believe there a more platforms on which you can show your collections and creativity. There is lots of new media via which you can reach your audience quickly and effectively. But, to be honest, for a lot of students a catwalkshow is the ultimate highlight; the spotlights, the people, the camera’s clicking and the feeling that comes with such a live event. It gives them such excitement, which is hard to match. Therefore I feel catwalkshows will always be there, even though lots of new platform (digital or non digital) will be introduced.”

How did it happen that Individuals is opening Amsterdam Fashion Week?
“We have been showing, with smaller and larger shows, during Amsterdam Fashion Week since the start. This definitely is the icing on the cake for AMFI and Individuals. Especially since around 800 extra young people, students and teachers will be able to see the show through live stream, thanks to Vodafone. I’m very excited how it will all turn out, but I am sure it will be a great happening.”

What part of the collection will eventually be sold?
“It’s hard to put that in percentages, since it depends on the styling of the show, which is planned for the second week of January. We always create Production Pieces, which retailers can buy and Unique Pieces (for the catwalk and photoshoots). Eventually the Production Pieces will be sold in a total of 10 boutiques ranging from high end casual to designer/luxury across the Netherlands.”

Is the collection sold in your own AMFI store as well?
“The Inviduals sales to retailers is organized via our By Amfi store. Every season we change the store in a way that it matches perfectly with the collection and invite our retailers there. After a period of about three weeks the store becomes a By Amfi store again; a very pleasant and dynamic collaboration.”

One of the design students spoke to us about inspiration, colors and materials

What was the inspiration for the upcoming collection?
“We were inspired by the current state of the world. We provide a contemporary solution for how to deal and live within it, partly inspired by Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest. We draw the line. We tell the story of the Neo-Pioneer who dares to settle within the unsettled. For fall/winter 2013/2014 we’ve communicated it like this

A multitude of choices has resulted in an inability to move forward in the world. The time has come to confidently step forward and set the underlying tone for this generation. Armed with a desire for progress, we draw the line in order to create an enhanced state of protection. We attract because we dare. We survive because we protect. We are an energy to be reckoned with. We are the Neo-Pioneers and ELEMENT is the key to our survival. 

This collection boldly draws the line by settling within the unsettled. An action towards survival defined by a magnetic attraction of angular and curved shapes. A mix of unconventional fabrics sculpts this modern day armour. Each piece makes its own statement, building a positive tension thus, empowering the wearer. An air of artificiality emphasizes the evolution of crucial details in design.

What can we expect to see?
“We will see colours that are derived from a dark uniform palette. Think about a dark oil stain on a wet pavement. Furthermore we want to put the spotlight on the strong and the vulnerable parts of a woman in order to provide her the protection that she needs to face the world. As for the fit, think pronounced angular and curved shapes mixed with a touch of tailored design. We chose new materials that are more technological than we have ever used before. We also used leather and other materials that enhance protection and are key iNDiViDUALS materials are used in every collection.”

Individuals By AMFI will present their latest collection on Wednesday night, the 23rd of January at 07.00 P.M.

See our gallery below for some sneak peeks of the collection.

 

Thom Browne Menswear Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2013

While blindfolded models hammering on a wooden construction formed the backdrop of Thom Browne’s fashion show, his walking models appeared from behind. The fact that they wore checked skirts and dress like designs could have been enough to keep us press interested. Yet Browne added an extra dimension to his looks, making them unique yet unwearable. His grey flannel suits, his cross printed vest, his checked pants and illusionist coat; they were all done in a boxy style. The effect of the square fits and the super stiff shoulders was even amplified by his square hats, rectangular sunglasses and geometric suitcases. Let’s hope Browne hat some real boxes hidden underneath his designs, so that when he removes those, he can actually sell some of these fall/winter creations.

Versace Haute Couture Paris SS2013

Perhaps Donatella’s neon pink and yellow, gold and black looks breathed MTV Awards more than Oscars or Grammy’s. The dresses might be a little too bright and short for a haute couture show. Yet nowadays anything can be a red carpet look and there’s always some attention seeking celebrity (or their stylists fort hat matter) enthusiastic enough to pull this off. No Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightley or Penelope Cruz perhaps, but we can totally see youngsters (and long term clients; smart thinking Donatella) Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez of Kirstin Stewart sporting one of these upbeat sexy creations. They’ll stand out from the crowd and with the 24-karat detailing still have everyone gushing.

Paul Smith Menswear Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2013

Who says fall collections have to be all about brown, grey and black? Paul Smith proved even prints and bright colors fit perfectly for an autumn collection. He showed suits in shades of mustard, red, flamingo pink and turquoise. Pairing a red pair of pants with a mustard jacket and combining different shades of blue in one office look. He introduced multiple colored houndstooth sweaters, a single Mondrian inspired creation and psychedelic prints popped up on a shirt and a winter coat. Models looked both confident and comfortable in the perfectly cut menswear designs. Sir Paul Smith’s ever growing Asian fan base won’t be disappointed and neither are we.

Saint Laurent Menswear Catwalk Fashion Show Paris FW2013

Skinny jeans, checked shirts, leather jackets and long striped scarves; Saint Laurent’s man is a grungy kind of guy for 2013. Jeans had multiple rips and the layering appeared careless on purpose. Hedi Slimane focused on how accessible his designs can be. So accessible both men and women should be able to pull them off (he proved by sending androgynous – real musician – models down the runway). It felt good to see menswear can be more than endless series of checked suits. Yet Slimane’s free spirited, punk creations perhaps could have been a little more original.

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