D.A.I. by Du Qinling

Meet Du Qinling, the Chinese fashion designer behind the label DuAsInfinity living in the Netherlands. She started her own label DuAsInfinity (aka D.A.I.) after graduating from the  London College of Fashion.

What made you realize that you wanted to work in (fashion) design?
 I am always attracted to well made and design objects, textiles, crafts and furniture.

Why did you choose fashion?
Clothes are what we need every day. For me, working in fashion feels like working in something essential to our life needs, not only physically, but also spiritually.

What are your sources of inspiration?
Music, Arts, Films, books.

Why did you decide to participate in FASHIONCLASH 2018? What are your expectations?

FASHIONCLASH exists since 10 years, so it must be an excellent event celebrating fashion. I would like to meet many professionals in fashion or media fields, gaining more press.

Collaborative Unit Project: Introducing Isabelle Violet Thibault & Eleftheria Karipidi

BLOG #2: Introducing Isabelle Violet Thibault & Eleftheria Karipidi

COLLABORATIVE UNIT PROJECT: FASHION MAKES SENSE

FASHIONCLASH in collaboration with students of University of the Arts London (UAL) – London College of Fashion

During the Collaborative Unit Project (February – June 2017) FASHIONCLASH works closely with students of the University of the Arts London (UAL), London College of Fashion on the topic ‘Fashion makes Sense’, this year’s FASHIONCLASH Festival theme. Students Caroline Zaidan, Isabelle Violet Thibault, Susanne James and Eleftheria Karipidi are challenged to research the engagement between fashion and the body/senses and they need to engage with the public on the issue: How can fashion (designers, consumers, and the industry) nowadays truly connect with the body and human beings instead of being just a simple aesthetic of a symbolic phenomenon?

Martijn van Strien, Post Couture Collective

Jeffrey Heiligers

LET’S ASK THE DESIGNER 
How do designers nowadays experience the connection between the body and the design process? Are designers aware of the importance of the senses and emotions in the way people dress, and how they attach value and significance to clothing?
As part of the ‘Fashion makes Sense’ research Dutch designers Martijn van Strien and Jeffrey Heiligers are interviewed by the students to gain insight on the ‘designer’ point of view on this subject.
How are they thinking about the body while they are designing? What is their design approach in terms of the body shape and size? And how do they approach the emotional and sensory experiences of the body and clothes?










We will of course keep you posted on the outcome. 
Now it’s time to meet team members Isabelle and Eleftheria!

Collaborative Unit Project - Introducing Caroline Zaidan

BLOG #1: Introducing Caroline Zaidan

COLLABORATIVE UNIT PROJECT: FASHION MAKES SENSE

FASHIONCLASH in collaboration with students of University of the Arts London (UAL) – London College of Fashion

FASHIONCLASH is always looking to collaborate with future fashion talent. This time we are honoured to work with and challenge the minds and creativity of students of the University of the Arts London (UAL), London College of Fashion. During this Collaborative Unit project (February – June 2017) FASHIONCLASH will work closely with students Caroline Zaidan, Isabelle Violet Thibault, Susanne James and Eleftheria (Ellie) Karipidi on the topic ‘Fashion makes Sense’, this year’s FASHIONCLASH Festival theme.

“How Does Fashion Make Sense?”
Today's fashion industry is a reflection of society with a strong focus on aesthetics. Our society approaches fashion as a mostly visual phenomenon and doesn’t always see the nature of the interaction with the body (of the wearer), despite the fact that fashion is the most intimate form of art, as it is literally worn “on the body”! As a second skin, clothing also enables us to express ourselves and helps us make sense of the world. Inspired by the issue “Fashion is Losing Sense,” FASHIONCLASH is focusing on the theme “Fashion Makes Sense” in 2017. Using the question “How Does Fashion Make Sense?” we want to engage in a dialogue with the public (consumer-designer-industry-education), because we believe that no change will be possible without interaction with the public.

During the Collaborative Unit project, we challenge the students to create an interactive awareness marketing campaign for the public that can also inspire and encourage the fashion industry to improve insight and engagement between fashion and the body and engages on the following issue: How can fashion (designers, consumers, and the industry) nowadays truly connect with the body and human beings instead of being just a simple aesthetic of a symbolic phenomenon?

We will of course keep you up-to-date on this lovely project and share the outcome!

 But first, let us introduce team member #1: Caroline Zaidan.

Caroline Zaidan

Caroline Zaidan
www.carolinezaidan.com

AGE & COUNTRY: 23- Switzerland (originally from Lebanon)
STUDY: Msc Applied Psychology to Fashion at London College of Fashion/UAL

Describe yourself in three words: 
Passionate, hard-working, sensitive.

What's your super power?
Focused & tenacious

What’s your favourite song, food and movie/TV-show at the moment?
 I can’t stop listening to a french rapper named Nekfeu.

How would you define fashion?
My secret garden, I can hide or expose myself through it.

When did you realise you wanted to work in/are fascinated by fashion?
 Since I’m a little girl, I would pick up the clothes for each member of my family.


What fascinates and/or inspires you in daily life?
When someone dresses up, is confident about it and tells about him/herself through the clothes. Not because society asked for it.

Can you tell us something about your study, projects you've been working and/or career path? At the moment I’m working on my thesis which is about self-discrepancies within fashion context: to which extend society, media dictate what one should or shouldn't wear and what impact this has on mental health.

Why have you decided to participate at the FASHIONCLASH Collaborative Unite Challenge? FASHIONCLASH seems to have the same vision about fashion as me and their interests correspond to mine thus my choice to participate to their project.

(How) Does fashion nowadays make sense to you?
 No, the way it functions makes it appear the opposite of what it is supposed to be.

How do you think fashion can truly connect with the body and human beings  instead of being just a simple aesthetic of a symbolic phenomenon? 
 We all need to stop comparing ourselves among us. Media need to stop sending wrong messages. Fashion should not be driven by money and profit. Because it is so close to our souls it should be a manner of expressing ourselves without any shame

What can we/the world expect from you? Now, near and in the future? 
I hope I can help fashion make a step forward by applying psychology to it: make the industry more human, a place of creation, passion, pleasure instead of this pressure everybody feels.

C3:Diversity - Day 2

C3:Diversity Project ended yesterday with a public presentation at Centre Céramique. Three teams, each consisting out of one Dutch and one London designer, presented the results of their two day collaboration.
The participating designers where given the challenge to create a concept related to the theme of Diversity. It is fair to conclude that the pitch had no winner but in stead they are all winners after their strong proposals and innovative ideas. The short-term project that took place just two days proved the importance and relevance of such encounters which enable designers not only to collaborate but also to research new ideas that could contribute to a sustainable development of the fashion industry, their personal development but most of al to a better well being. That is exactly what FASHIONCLASH mission is, to organize encounters that will challenge fashion with aim to contribute to a better world.

The presentation was a display of not only new ideas but also new friendships. All participants reflected that the process of the collaboration is as important as the end result and expressed their desire to continue. The conclusion of the project is basically that this is just the begging.

C3:Diversity is a social design project in which the visions of Made2Measure (Maastricht University), Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design (MAFAD), Forza Fashion House Maastricht (FFH), FASHIONCLASH Festival, London College of Fashion - Official (LCF) and 6 different designers (3 from Maastricht, 3 from London) connect, collaborate and create. Together with Made2Measure and London College of Fashion a new platform is provided for creativity, knowledge and research. A platform in which fashion is placed in a social context. The aim if this project is to stimulate the creative industries, to connect Maastricht and London, and to build a lasting relationship with creative minds, entrepreneurs and institutes around the world.

Participants: 
From London: Bella Gonshorovitz, Michelle Muirhead and Carmen Ludwig
From Maastricht: Victoria Sophie Keller, Maarten van Mulken and Ebby Port

C3:Diversity took place in the context of MCCCI Conference, a two-day event on the cultural and creative industries. The first day, Monday September 26, will have an academic focus and is organised by Made2Measure(Maastricht University) in collaboration with FMA. During this day, young scholars in the field of finance and investment in creative ventures are invited to present their research. The second day, Tuesday September 27th is focused more toward practitioners in the cultural and creative field, artists and students. To make this day distinct during the conference, it has been named ‘Everyone is an Artist’. The organisation of this day is a collaboration between Made2Measure and The Artist and the Others.

More information: http://www.forzafashionhouse.nl/c3diversity

C3:Diversity project impressions of Day 2, Photography by Sem Shayne

C3:Diversity - Day 1

C3:Diversity project impressions of Day 1 

C3:Diversity is a social design project in which the visions of Made2Measure (Maastricht University), Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design (MAFAD), Forza Fashion House Maastricht (FFH), FASHIONCLASH Festival, London College of Fashion - Official (LCF) and 6 different designers (3 from Maastricht, 3 from London) connect, collaborate and create.
Together with Made2Measure and London College of Fashion a new platform is provided for creativity, knowledge and research. A platform in which fashion is placed in a social context.
The aim if this project is to stimulate the creative industries, to connect Maastricht and London, and to build a lasting relationship with creative minds, entrepreneurs and institutes around the world.

Participants:
From London: Bella Gonshorovitz, Michelle Muirhead and Carmen Ludwig
From Maastricht: Victoria Sophie Keller, Maarten van Mulken and Ebby Port

More information: http://www.forzafashionhouse.nl/c3diversity

C3:Diversity takes place in the context of MCCCI Conference, a two-day event on the cultural and creative industries. The first day, Monday September 26, will have an academic focus and is organised by Made2Measure(Maastricht University) in collaboration with FMA. During this day, young scholars in the field of finance and investment in creative ventures are invited to present their research. The second day, Tuesday September 27th is focused more toward practitioners in the cultural and creative field, artists and students. To make this day distinct during the conference, it has been named ‘Everyone is an Artist’. The organisation of this day is a collaboration between Made2Measure and The Artist and the Others.

Photography: Sem Shayne

Korean Fashion Designer: Bona Kim

Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?)
Bona Kim. I am a Korean fashion designer who recently completed Master in Fashion Design and Technology, Womenswear at London College of Fashion 2012.

What inspires you in general?
My inspiration comes from ordinary things in daily life. My design journey starts from questioning our daily lives. What we eat or drink, wear and how we socialize and find yourself amongst other.

Call for entries for Berlin Fashion Film Festival 2013

* DATES, CURATORS, JUDGES AND PARTNERS CONFIRMED

* SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED

Berlin, May 2013 ­
The outstanding judges, partners and curators of the 2013 edition of the Berlin fashion Film Festival have been confirmed and are now being announced.
The curating team is composed by the monthly cinematic experience Berlin Film Society, the events management company and showroom FIER management, the fashion film agency Furore Film, and the London College of Fashion.
Each curator will select a number of fashion films from their network and from the official Berlin fashion Film Festival open call, now extended until May 15, 2013, as the finalists to be screened and awarded at the Berlin fashion Film Festival Award Ceremony on July 4, 2013 during Berlin Fashion Week 2013.

BFFF Submission form: http://berlinfashionfilmfestival.net/open-call/

The finalists will be judged by an international jury according to different categories, formed by: filmmaking duo Alexandliane for Best Cinematography, makeup artist and beauty expert Boris Entrup for Best Makeup and Hair, international star DJ HELL for Best Music, Final Cut editor James Rose for Best Editing,creative director Michael Schachtner for Best Idea/Script, Vogue Italia’s senior editor Sara Maino for Best Fashion, and international Production Designer Steve Summersgill for Best Production Design.

About Berlin fashion Film Festival: Berlin fashion Film Festival takes place once a year during Berlin Fashion Week. It presents fashion in a innovative way, combining film with fashion presentations, whilst grouping together outstanding film directors, emerging fashion talent and influential characters of the international creative scene.

@Berlinfashfilm
www.berlinfashionfilmfestival.net

Meet fashion designer Maddalena Mangialavori

Please introduce yourself: My name is Maddalena Mangialavori and I'm a young Italian fashion designer. I've always had an inexplicable but visceral passion for fashion, and after my BA in fashion design in Florence I decided it was time for me to do a more "international" experience. So I came to London. I just graduated at a Master Level, after 17 months of hard work, in Fashion Design Technology at London College of Fashion.

What inspires you in general? I'm a traveller. I've always been since I was a kid, and I'm used to absorb as much as I can from the places I visit, from different cultures, different traditions. I would say inspiration comes from opening yourself to a certain reality and let some of that reality touch your chords. But inspiration is just the beginning of a journey, it just points me a direction and once I find it I usually spend a loooot of time researching and digging on a certain topic, and THAT really feeds my creativity.

Where are you based? I now divide myself between London and Italy.