Pleun van Dijk - FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017

Pleun van Dijk is a young multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Rotterdam. She graduated from The Design Academy Eindhoven and The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. By observing and analyzing moments of transition within society she tries to create new thoughts and show a different perspective on a topic. By taking new ideas out of the abstract and giving shape to a possible outcome she wants to give the viewer the possibility to anticipate on the new developments before they sneak up on us.

Pleun doesn't call her work „fashion” in the traditional meaning of the word. Most of her work is about the relations between human body and fashion in the sense of sculpting our body in itself.
Her biggest personal achievement so far has been her graduation project called “Reborn” and the follow up project “Transcience”. Exhibition wise she would say the Graduation show during the Dutch Design week, the For Play exhibition at MU and recently the DAE #tvclerici expo during Salone del Mobile in Milano  were the highlights of her career. At the moment she’s working on some freelance jobs and she is busy finishing her Artist in Residency at Springhouse (Amsterdam), where she started a new research on the future of human procreation. One of the most inspiring and challenging projects Pleun recently did is helping her brother/filmmaker Bram van Dijk with the production of his graduation movie which will be released this summer.
Pleun's biggest struggle as a young designer/artist is to find ways to produce new work. After graduation she realized how hard it is to find the time and focus to dive into a new topic, do a proper research and transform this into a new project. The reality of having a side job and working as a freelancer gives her often the feeling of loosing time and running around between all different projects.
The thing she loves most about her profession, if she had to choose only one thing, would be having the opportunity to give the viewer a new perspective on a certain topic, and make them speculate about certain things by triggering their imagination on possible future scenarios.

FLORIANE MISSLIN - FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017

Floriane Misslin is a French designer based in Eindhoven. After having pursued classical and technical fashion studies at The Duperré School of Applied Arts in Paris she became interested in analyzing the fashion body from a sociological perspective. She graduated from The Design Academy Eindhoven in 2016.

She is currently working to develop Uni—Sex, a visual analysis that observes how the male and female bodies are represented in an idealized context of gender neutrality.

She is passionate about creative and critical thinking, media imagery, represqentations of the body and their cultural meaning.

Floriane Misslin's work can be seen at FASHIONCLASH
Festival during the Fashion Makes Sense LAB  on June 30 - July 2 at SAMdecorfabriek. On sunday (July 2th) Misslin will join the panel at the Fashion Makes Sense TALKS.

SHI[R]T | FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017

Meet Jeffrey Heiligers and Eva Wagensweld, the designers behind SHI[R]T. Jeff is originally from Voerendaal (a small village in the province of Limburg, in the South of the Netherlands) and Eva is from Woerden, a town located in the middle of the Netherlands. Currently both are based in Amsterdam. Jeffrey graduated from the Design Academy in Eindhoven, from the faculty of Man and Well-being and Eva graduated from AMFI (Amsterdam Fashion Institute), from the faculty of Fashion and Design. The brand SHI[R]T was born out of a frustration that both designers shared about unfair working conditions and high prices to be able to get promoted. They also find that the price to product ratio when it comes to clothing is distorted because people on the other side of the globe make the garments for as little as a couple of cents per day and customers expect high service for low prices even despite that. With SHI[R]T, Eva and Jeff are trying to convey the message that fashion can be made fair to everybody and also be aesthetically pleasant. The project that they will present on the FASHIONCLASH Festival will be a wake up call to change our consumer behavior.

When did you realise you wanted to work in a field of (fashion)design?
JEFF: I think already as a young child it was clear that I liked creating things. Because my approach was quite technical and focused on movement I decided I wanted to study mechanical engineering. In my 3rd year I realized I couldn't do what I wanted to do as it was all focussed on technology and practicality. Aesthetics was out of the picture and I felt I would be able to translate technology into simple shapes and object, that look pleasing and still keep their function. Thats when I started a pre-art school program for the art academy in Maastricht. During this course I felt like a world opened up to me and I applied to the Design Academy Eindhoven and got in.

EVA: When I was hooked on the series ‘The Hills’ in high school. I totally wanted to have a Lauren Conrad life. I had no idea what I wanted to do and it’s kind of crazy to make this decision when you’re 16 years old, but I’m glad she inspired me.

What are so far your main achievements in your career?
JEFF: I think both my graduation projects (Posture and Momentum) are a good representation of what I stand for as a designer. In both I succeeded to translate a technical device into something aesthetically pleasing, with full functioning simplified technology applied.
 Posture had been picked up by the press and was a hit during Dutch Design Week ’15. I have gained a lot of knowledge out of this experience, about your work being recognized and promoted. Making money of it on the other hand is the biggest struggle.

EVA: Graduating without delays before my 21st birthday with my collection ‘We’re flying over the Cuckoo’s nest’ and finding my own design style. Taking this to the next level with BLACKBLEACH and keeping on evolving.

In what projects are you involved at this moment?
JEFF: I just launched a new collection with my studio that is existing out of 5 basic pieces that can be made-to-measure with the sizing tool I designed for Posture. The production process is done in fair way and the pieces are unisex. Next to that I work as freelance prototyper/production manager for Lokbi Enterprises and started collaborating with Eva Wagensveld. We both share the same view on society and we both want to do something about it, but in our own way. Although alone is alone and together you can do more. SHI[R]T for me was born out of a slight frustration of unfair working conditions and high prices to enter competitions or shows to promote your portfolio. I had quite some job interviews over the past 2 years and was mostly offered an un-paid internship or very ridiculous working conditions. I am aware that still we shouldn’t complain about these things because on the other side of the world people are sewing garments together for a couple of cents a day. It feels like society is loosing its touch with what is fair and what isn’t. Especially when it comes to prices products are sold for. I mean… customers expect high service, for low prices and that actually should be impossible.

EVA: Currently I am working on my own brand BLACKBLEACH where I create new garments out of used and/or leftover materials. During AMFI I always liked to design from existing garments because of interesting shapes and details. It started to feel strange to throw away those beautiful ‘toiles’ and only use them for their patterns. So now I handpick beautiful waste and reinvent it. The other project I am involved in is SHI[R]T, together with Jeffrey. SHI[R]T is super exiting to me and Jeff and I are really on the same page, we can have super inspiring whining conversations with each other and then come up with amazing ideas. It’s so cool to find solutions for things that you aren’t happy about.

What do you love the most about your profession?
JEFF: It is amazing to create new things. The feeling that comes with making progress in your process is a kick that gives you drive to keep going with reaching that end goal. When it is finally finished, it isn’t actually finished because of all the new input and inspirations you gathered during the process to start something new. It’s an endless circle of improving yourself and your designs.

EVA: I love to drape around with garments and explore until I am happy about the design. Then finishing it and constantly find solutions by solving detail ‘problems’ is super satisfying. I just really love to create whilst also trying to do something right for the world.


What are your biggest struggles as a young designer/artist?
JEFF: It is annoying to say and sometimes it bothers me, but it is money and time. Unfair offers from big companies and not begin paid for your services. I love what I do, but just as any one else I need to pay my rent at the end of the month. As a young professional I need a job on the side to be able to sustain myself.


How would you define fashion?

'Fashion is a reflection of what is happening around us.'

What fascinates/inspires you and why?
Fast-fashion brands and their customers. The way people don’t think about their purchase. How can a ready to wear garment cost €10,- if you take all the labour-, material- and transport costs in to consideration?

What challenges did you face during the design process?
JEFF: The biggest challenge was creating the measuring system for Posture. It was a big game of trial and error. Making a Posture garment is very precise work and it took a long, long time to create a digital system to produce an individual piece for each customer.

EVA: Finding the time to design and really finish garments. Sometimes I have so many ideas that it’s tempting to create something new all the time and not finish all the details of other designs. It’s also always a surprise if there will be something useful in the thrift shops / markets. And when I don’t find anything I have no material.

Why have you decided to participate at FASHIONCLASH Festival?
Because the theme fits our platform like a glove.

What are your thoughts regarding ‘religion and fashion’?
Interesting, but possibly dangerous.

Does fashion makes sense to you? 
No. Does fashion make sense if the quality of the products is low, the labour conditions are poor and it harms the environment terribly? The psychology behind fashion has become less about quality or durability and more about being fast, cheap and easy to replace.

What are your thoughts on making ‘fashion’ more environmentally-friendly?
It’s necessary!

'People should make conscious decisions about their purchases. Don’t buy because you can, but buy something because you need it.'

What are your thoughts on the senses in relation to the human body?
The relation to the human body got lost. The standard confection measurement is nowhere to be found and models are either super skinny or overweight.

Do you think that fashion can contribute to a better world / better well-being, and what do you do to make a difference? 
Yes, we need society to be conscious and make it easy for the consumer to buy the right things. With SHI[R]T we want to make it easy for people to find fashion forward products that are created by [young] local designers. This by offering all these designs on one webshop. Instead of going to webshops like Zalando, de Bijenkorf or Asos, go to www.shitshirt.nl and buy sustainable!


What senses are engaged in your creation process?
JEFF: Touch and vision
EVA: Vision and touch.

How does technology change your creation process?
JEFF: Without technology there is no process.
EVA: It’s super useful to always have my extended brain [iPhone] with me.

What’s a standard day for you?
SHI[R]T, SLEEP, EAT, REPEAT.

Vegan, vegetarian, healthy diet or any food will do?
Healthy food [vegan].

What’s your favorite song at the moment?
Money - The Flying Lizards.

Best TV-show/movie at the moment?
Minimalism.

What is your bad habit?
Working whilst being underpaid.

Are you a people's person or a loner?
People’s person.

Do you have a pet?
Yes, our boyfriends.

Your favorite quote?
Life would be tragic if it weren't funny. - Stephen Hawking.

What’s your favorite city?
Amsterdam.

Who is your biggest example/idol?
Iris Apfel.

Favorite magazine?
Playgirl, we don’t like fashion magazines.

Your favorite hashtags #?
#shitshirt #fuckfastfashion #savethechildrenofbangladesh

You favorite social media app?
 LinkedIn, to find unpaid internships.

Instagram account you think deserves more attention?
@shi.r.t

Jeff and Eva have a website where you can read more about their stance on contemporary fashion design, and check out their garments. Take a peek at it by clicking here.    

JOELLE BOERS X CHRIS VAN DEN ELZEN

design by Joelle Boers | photo by Karen Kikkert

Meet Dutch textile and print designer and owner of a conceptstore Joelle Boers, who has a passion for illustration and has a graphic design background. In 2011 she graduated in in Textile Design at MAFAD, the Netherlands. Two years later she started her own label; JOELLE BOERS | STUDIO. For FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016, Joelle teams up with shoe/accessoires designer Chris van den Elzen who is based in Utrecht. In December 2012 he graduated at the Identity Department of the Design Acedemy Eindhoven. Chris also has his own label: Chris van den Elzen.
Both of the designers aren't new to FASHIONCLASH Festival; they participated at various editions and events during.

You can see their new collection 'COSMOGONY' Friday July 1, Show 2 at 21:00. For the show you can get your tickets here. You will also be able to see and buy their collection at the Designer Market. Friday July 1 open at 18:30 and Saturday July 2 open at 16:00 (free entrance).

When did you realise you wanted to be a fashion designer? How long have you been designing clothing? 
Joelle Boers: From childhood on I was always drawing and painting or making clothes for my Barbie dolls. I realized to work in fashion during my study at MAFAD, I love to create prints and see how they come to live when you use them on different garments.

Chris van den Elzen: I realized to work in fashion during my study at the Design Academy, I love to construct pieces around the human body.

Yoni Lefévre

Preview of Yoni's work

Dutch designer Yoni Lefévre focuses on the visual communication of a message in a social context in her work. Her collection will be presented during the exhibition and aims to change our understanding of aging. Unfortunately, she won’t be present herself as she will be travelling in Indonesia and Australia! 

Hi Yoni! What inspires you in general? 

I’m always inspired by documentaries, both movies and photo documentaries, about honest and pure stories of people’s lives. It’s the little things in life and the story behind an image that’s worth documenting. 

What place or city do you find inspiring? 

I lived a little while in London and I thought the community aspect of this city was very inspiring to see. They stimulate a lot of small interventions and social organizations that help the area. I believe that change starts locally. 

Textile designer Jolijn Pasmans

Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?)

Jolijn Pasmans: a materialist, texturist and inspirator.

Being a designer, I create materials and forms to inspire other designers and producers within the field of fashion and interior. Tactility, texture and atmosphere are very important in my designs.

During my study at the Design Academy in Eindhoven I fell in love with textile and textile techniques, which are now part of my main skills. Other materials like plastics and concrete are also within my expertise.

My way of working is very impulsive and experimental. I always have to create a mess in order to design, after this messy stage the analytical stage starts. I think this process comes from my youth, in which everything was allowed. In school I have always tried to stay true to this way of designing, and I still do.

Marly van Lipzig and the transformation of 2D forms into 3D shapes

1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?) 

My name is Marly van Lipzig and I graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven (The Netherlands) with a small series of jewellery and a print collection, and by doing so, my passion for prints was born! My interest in prints started growing when I was doing a print for the collection of Hussein Chalayan while I was interning there for 8 months. Another work experience at the print and textile development department of Jonathan Saunders confirmed that this was my field of specialization. During my studies I explored my own ideas on prints and created my 1st collection; The Architecture of Prints, which I will be showing during Fashion Clash 2012