Atelier Project
Consequently, there is an increasing need for quality and durability in fashion. As a contemporary fashion designer you have the responsibility to create fashion that exceeds mere aesthetic value.
For fashion to be relevant today and tomorrow it needs to fulfil deeper needs of the consumer. So it needs to resonate a relevant and original vision on fashion. And when it wil be made with passion and dedication the outcome will be more meaningful and durable. In other words fashion needs to have a soul again.
Atelier confronts you with the responsibility that all contemporary fashion designers face. Atelier challenges you to create high quality fashion that ticks all these boxes. Atelier offers you a platform to start the development of your authentic design identity, vision and signature style. Atelier is about the dream, the passion, and the innate necessity that you have to feel to design fashion.
In Atelier the focus is on the design process, which is directed by your unique ideas, personality, visionary talent, and making skills, on the one hand, and a general need for innovation and durability on the other. In other words, you are in charge of your own "Atelier" where you can create without the limitations of a brand or the market.
The objective is to design a collection of high quality, durable unique pieces based on various technical design principles, such as draping and pattern manipulation, a combination of crafts and innovative techniques, craftmanship, experimentation with form, (de)construction, and a specialization in knit, print or digital design. This collection of outfits will evidence the start of a personal handwriting and a clear and relevant vision on fashion.
'Waste is only waste if you waste it' - Will.I.Am.
This Atelier-collection takes this quote as a statement and wants to give another insight on our consumer driven society. Taking apart the Levi’s 501 as a metaphor of the current American legacy we live in. With the richness found inside the jeans a new base of a collection was found. A collection based on what the value of our European Fashion should be based on in nowadays zeitgeist.
Because reinventing ourselves can only makes stronger so lets be aware of ourselves and our world and live life more sustainable…
The continent of where most of our waste considered garments go to gave insight on the rich fashion legacy our society has. Several ethnic groups took the by patterns made tailored clothing as protest against their dictating governments. A deeper look into the Neo-Sapeurs of Kinshasa and Brazzaville,
Republic of Congo made visible they really identify themselves with the European clothes they wear and appreciate the value of tailoring.
The new generation is taking the inspiration of the Great Britains Royalty in time of their ancestors to a new level. By collecting different materials and garments over time new Silhouettes are created without losing the tailoring elements.
Process Pictures
Let's be aware
In the designproces the Japanese Boro and WabiSabi thoughts inspired me to just let the design evolve from the patterns of the fabric on. Only in this way the richness of time can fully become to what it deserves.
Because by working like this there will absolutely evolve imperfections. These are the imperfections of the designer and maker, and so they are the fingerprints of me that is in the work.
The WabiSabi thought learns us to embrace imperfection and gives the insight on what it makes stand out in the crowd of nowadays aim for perfection. A thought that also helps me to accept myself and be aware of my existence.
Crafting Development
Blue is the New Gold
The value of the garment can’t be expressed in price. Because after all it is just stitched together fabrics that were considered waste in our mowadays society. This collection is made to challenge the people to think differently about ‘value’.
So it may not be valuable in terms of money, but what if we start to look how valuable it is in the notion of ‘time’? The time it took to form and color the patterns of the jeans. The dark marks of parts that were covered makes time visible in it’s surrounding. And when you start seeing it it suddenly becomes one of the most valuable fabric we could imagine.
Line-Up and catwalk
Special word of thanks to...
Lots of people supported in this project so on this they are thanked for all what they have done. Because the importance of a supporting role never has to be forgotten.
Thanks to...
The company BRASCO for showing me the small amount of garments that been thrown away monthly and sponsoring me the nicely aged Levi’s jeans.
To a special team that made a photoshoot possible, from which the result was better I could ever hoped for. So Lorenzo Gentile Polese, Els Veerman, Toman Woerdman & Romilda van Raamsdonk thanks for the nice production.
Wout Runhaar & Ton Stevens for doing fittings and for walking the catwalk-show with my garments. And also being nice company during the project and show.
Design Teachers Oscar Raaijmakers and Saskia Stockler for helping me taking the garments to a higher level.
My dad, although he didn’t had anything with fashion, his sustainable fashion behaviour and always wearing the Levi's jeans became the personal starting point for this collection.