PRE-STIMULIS - Opening FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017

PRE-STIMULIS
A project by FASHIONCLASH & MAFAD, in collaboration with the Maastricht Academy of Performing Arts
The opening of FASHIONCLASH Festival took place on Thursday 29th of June at the Forza Fashion House in the LAB Building/Het Radium. This was also the official opening of the The Forza Fashion House, the new breeding ground for creative, cultural and entrepreneurial Maastricht and also the new FASHIONCLASH office. Directed by theatre makers Joost Horward and Nina Willems the evening contained interdisciplinary performances and installations by students from MAFAD and Maastricht Academy of Performing Arts.

PRE-STIMULIS Project
Specially for the opening of the festival, FASHIONCLASH teamed up with MAFAD (Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design). In the context of the new design curriculum ‘BODY, OBJECT & MATERIAL’, the second-year BODY design students were assigned to do artistic research on the ‘senses’ in relation to the festival’s theme 'Fashion Makes Sense'. In addition, each student has been connected to one or two students from the Maastricht Academy of Performing Arts. Based on the research of the design students, each team developed a concept in which they expressed their vision and findings on the ‘senses’ and new ways how to create an enriched embodied experience for the audience.

Marcel van Kan (MAFAD) and Branko Popovic (FASHIONCLASH), togehter with Joost Horward and Nina Willems coached the students during the proces of research and execution of the performances. The project concluded in nine participatory installations / performances.

Participants Students MAFAD: Ashley Luypaers, Max Niereisel, María Voth Velasco, Michelle Cornelissen, Dana Lipka, Julina Bezold, Natalia Rumiantseva, Empar Juanes Sanchis

Students the Maastricht Academy of Performing Arts: Anthony van Gog, Nora Ramakers, Diederik Kreike, Izak Berman, Luca Meisters, Anna Luca da Silva, Maarten Heijnens, Caro Derkx, Mees Walter, Maxime Dreesen, Anoek Oostermeijer

Photography: Team Peter Stigter

1. Michelle Cornelissen & Nora Ramakers
H2O  (ρ = m / V + 70 °C) - sin α = 1 . λ/d (c=f.λ)
Colour Fluctus, part 9

Colour Fluctus part 9 registers an unique footprint, captured by colour. The movement, translated by the pigments, shows a timetable and controls the colours and patterns. The impact of the movement becomes visible once the colour is poured into the water. At the same time, we archive and measure the body movements as manifestations of emotions. The pattern is a memory of this particular moment and tells a story about one's character.  
Performers: Laura Hogeweg, Froukje de Boer, Nora Ramakers, Michelle Cornelissen

Coffee Break Story #5

Together with our partner Coffeelovers we will be sharing a Coffee Break Story almost every Sunday as of the 4th of June! 5 Local designers who are part of FabricAge will be sharing their “Cup of Inspiration” and “What tickles their fashion senses”. 

Our last Coffee Break is with: 

Maarten van Mulken | www.maartenvanmulken.co | WINNER RADIKAL FASHION FILM AWARD 2017

Maarten Van Mulken, 26, is a Dutch fashion designer living in Maastricht. Last year he graduated from the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts & Design (MAFAD). This year he will be introducing his new womenswear collection at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017. Next to creating own collections, he is working as a costume designer for a theatre, which fits perfectly with how he likes to design. He is thrilled with a project like FabricAge, where nobody is left out, and everyone can participate. Together with the rest of the team, he came up with the design that withholds three different kinds of crafts, creating a ‘gesammtkunstwerk’.

Photo: Team Peter Stigter

FASHIONCLASH Festival preview at Catwalk Maastricht

FASHIONCLASH Festival preview performance at Catwalk Maastricht.

Today, the audience in the city of Maastricht experienced a small tasty teaser of to expect during the festival. In cooperation with SESSIBON and MAFAD the newest local talents presented their work at Mosae Forum and Entre Deux shopping areas.

The displayed red outfits are designed by 3-D year students from the Body department at MAFAD. The red represented the urge to protest and speak out. Does Fashion Make Sense? was the question posed while parading among the streets dominated by fast fashion shops.
The statement was not there to judge the people but mostly to engage a dialogue in the streets, afteral the street is the biggest display of 'fashion'.
Moreover the performance happend to give voice to the new generation of designers and the eight MAFAD students: Ashley Luypaers, Max Niereisel, María Voth Velasco, Michelle Cornelissen, Dana Lipka, Julina Bezold, Natalia Rumiantseva and  Empar Juanes Sanchis

Fashion Makes Sense, the 9th edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival will take place from June 29 till July 2 in Maastricht.

More about the FASHIONCLASH Festival program: www.fashionclash.nl

FASHIONCLASH ♥ THIESSEN

HOME OF THE BEST WINES COMBINED WITH A TOUCH OF HISTORY 
Proud sponsor of FASHIONCLASH Festival since 2016 

FASHIONCLASH is honoured to team up for the second time with Thiessen Wijnkoopers during FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017. Just like fine wine, this friendship gets better with age as we’re not only treating our festival guests to the beautiful and rich flavours of Thiessen Wijnkoopers. This year we will also present an outstanding exhibition of the new generation of fashion talent from the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts & Design (MAFAD) throughout their beautiful centuries-old house in the heart of Maastricht.

Forza Fashion House Fashion Masterclass #1

Forza Fashion House Maastricht organized the very first Masterclass with spotlight on PRICE, PRODUCT and PROMOTION.

On Monday 14th of November, as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week(GEW) in Maastricht, 10 designers took part at three inspiring sessions by fashion industry experts.
The masterclasses took place at MAFAD Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts & Design. The entire day was dedicated to these 3 key business ingredients. Essential lectures, one-on-one feedback and tips & tricks by fashion experts Dorothée Jennekens (PROMOTION), Philippe Pourhashemi (PRODUCT) and Raïssa Verhaeghe (PRICE).

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

Photography: Karen Kikkert

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

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.

Bluedenîmes & Minou Lejeune at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016

photo by Tyson Ernste

Denimhead Dusty Thomas is a 23-year-old Maastricht-based menswear designer who originally comes from Landgraaf. Her MAFAD graduation collection 'Bluedenîmes' served as a therapy for her, it took away all her insecurities. She loves to create signatures pockets for all her designs.

For FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016, Dusty teams up again with props/accessories designer Minou Lejeune.
You can see their new collection Friday night, Show 1 at 19:30. You can get your tickets here.


Q&A with Dusty Thomas

When did you realise you wanted to be a fashion designer? 
I realized it as a child; I was always drawing clothes. I have been designing clothing since the second year of my study at the MAFAD, Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design. So that’s 5 years in total now.

What are your main achievements in your career at this moment? 
My main achievement is to gain more experience and expand my portfolio. Also I want to make my menswear label Bluedenîmes more well-known. I hope one day I could make a living out of my label and/or I hope to have a nice job as a designer at a denim label in Amsterdam.

DYS|UTOPIA by oh seven two

oh seven two is a collaborative project by seven fashion and two textile students from Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design (MAFAD). You can see the presentation during FASHIONCLASH  Festival at Marres, House for Contemporary Culture. On Friday 1 July there will be a performance at 15:00.

"Within DYS|UTOPIA, our collective collection, we want to give a glimpse of how the future could look like in some decades. Our hopes and worries concerning humanity today, will they fulfill? Will people live longer? Will war zones increase? Will we all be refugees or will we have learnt to live in peace? Our acting today has an impact on the future. That’s what we are sure about. The decisions we take now will leave marks on our progeny. They are the heirs of our future and it depends on us, wether they will live in a pleasant or a nasty world. Through our collection we point out two fictive scenarios: utopia and dystopia. We would like to take you on a trip from one world to the other. The space that connects both sides is the in-between zone or chaos zone, where colours and shapes slowly blend. By the combination of fashion and textile design the showplace will be turned into a unique illusionary realm of experience."
DYS|UTOPIA - Oh Seven Two - Teaser from ohseven on Vimeo.

Participants: Valéry Fiddelaars, Johanna Hehemeyer- Cürten, Helen Hentschke, Jara Marx, Luisa Sugaipov, Tjorven Volkenborn, Lise van Wetten, Tamara Verbruggen, Linda Senden

https://www.facebook.com/o7designcollective

30.06 – 03.07
Marres, House for Contemporary Culture
http://www.marres.org
30 June: 17:00 – 20:00
1 July: 15:00 – 20:00 *performance at 15:00 
2 July: 12:00 – 20:00
3 July: 12:00 – 20:00
Location: Kapucijnenstraat 98

Spot On Fashion Maastricht by FASHIONCLASH

FASHIONCLASH Spot On! ‘Fashion Maastricht’ pop-up exhibition at VVV Maastricht

In the weekend of 28 and 29 November the Dinghuis, historical building in Maastricht known as the VVV Maastricht, temporarily served as a pop-up museum for designers linked to the city of Maastricht.

Continuing the successful 'Fashion Maastricht' in Chengdu China, FASHIONCLASH is presenting the second exhibition focusing on designers that are linked to Maastricht by origin or education.
The presented work stands out for its textile and material research, innovative tailoring or the conceptual approach. This exhibition gives a glimpse of authentic ideas offered by a new generation of visionaries that are shaping the new history of Maastricht, a city with a long tradition of arts and crafts and known for its sense of style, quality of life and dynamic cul- tural scene. Most of the featured designers are alumni of MAFAD, the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design. Among them you can see pieces of designers that are successfully emerging and work of the latest generation of fashion design graduates.

Participants: Anna Gregor, Bluedenîmes, Danielle Vroemen, Ebby Port, Edmeé Jongen, Gabriel Guevara, Jessie Beurskens, Joelle Boers x Sofya Samareva, Julia Aumann, Julia Schmitz, Marsha Kessels, Maarten van Mulken, Lotte Milder, Linda Friesen, Linda Maissan, Marlou Breuls, Mieke Kockelkorn, Mona Steinhaeusser, Minou Lejeune, Reinder Schmidt, Renate Cuiper, Strikks, Verena Klein and Sem Shayne.

Exhibition is curated by FASHIONCLASH.

All images are by BRANKOPOPOVICBLOG.

FASHIONCLASH exhibition in Chengdu - China

FASHIONCLASH presents: Fashion Maastricht
An exhibition curated by FASHIONCLASH, during the Dutch Days in Chengdu (23 – 28 September, 2015 Chengdu – China )


Under the umbrella of the Dutch Days Chengdu, the city of Maastricht celebrated the third anniversary of its sister city relationship with Chengdu by organizing a Maastricht Day. During this days the city of Maastricht will showcased its cultural strengths with presentations, workshops and the FASHIONCLASH exhibition.

This multidisciplinary exhibition represents the quality of craftsmanship and a broad spectrum of fashion design aesthetics of talented designers who are linked to Maastricht by origin or education. The presented work stands out for its textile and material research, innovative tailoring or the conceptual approach. This exhibition gives a glimpse of authentic ideas offered by a new generation of visionaries that are shaping the new history of Maastricht, a city with a long tradition of arts and crafts and known for its sense of style, quality of life and dynamic cultural scene. Most of the featured designers are alumni of MAFAD, the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design. Among them you can see pieces of the 2015 fashion design graduates, a group of promising designers who present themselves under the name of ‘About 11’.

In addition to the exhibited fashion designs video’s where on display showing highlights of the 7th edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival – The Gender edition – including the performance ‘ Tabula Rasa ‘, developed by FASHIONCLASH in cooperation with dance company Project Sally Maastricht and designer Mieke Kockelkorn with the aim to provide the awareness of – and transcend conservative gender roles in our society. Tabula Rasa is a message of freedom. The theme of gender is also expressed in the performance ‘ The mutants’ by Lotte Milder, a student at the famous Maastricht Theatre Academy. The surprising clash of fashion and textile design, video and performance offers an impression of the unique interdisciplinary approach of FASHIONCLASH.

Featured designers: Anna Gregor, Ebby Port, Joelle Boers, Julia Aumann, Julia Schmitz, Linda Friesen, Marlou Breuls, Rachel Prijs, Reinder Schmidt, Renate Cuiper, Schueller de Waal, Strikks

Presented Films:
- FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015 by WEDOVOODOO.TV
- MAFAD Graduation Show 2015 by WEDOVOODOO.TV
- The Mutants by Lotte Milder Tabula Rasa ‘Spectrum’ Performance (choreography Martin Harriague, costume Mieke Kockelkorn)

This exhibition is made possible by the city of Maastricht and its policy ‘Fashion Maastricht’ and is curated by FASHIONCLASH.
www.fashionmaastricht.nl

MAFAD exhibition at Dominicanenkerk

Domino Vugts - photo Bente Snijkers

During the FASHIONCLASH Festival MAFAD proudly presents, besides the graduation show, their 3rd year students with their mini-collections at the Dominicanen Boekhandel.

- Domino Vugts, with her independent woman collection
- Karlijn Krijger, with her collection strongly based on wearability
- Luisa Sugaipov, with her Myahkri collection, based on the modern warrior
- Victoria Keller, with her collection that breaths innocence and is based on the girly look of the 60's
- Ilona Simons, with her men collection inspired by 20th century work wear, in particular by the pilot overall.

MAFAD (The Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design), is part of the Faculty of Art Maastricht and Zuyd University of applied sciences. The bachelor of Fine Arts and the bachelor Design offers their students a challenging learning environment with outstanding ateliers, exceptional studio facilities and a vast array of different perspectives within a wide spectrum of arts and design.

www.mafad.nl

Joelle Boers at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2015

Get to know JOELLE BOERS, who comes from the little Dutch town Geleen near Maastricht. After her studies in Graphic Design and Photography, she desired to explore the world of Fashion and Textile Design at MAFAD (Maastricht Academy Fine Arts and Design).
She has been involved in many FASHIONCLASH events and projects.
Joelle will present her debut, self-designed collection at FASHIONCLASH Festival Show Program and purchase her designs at the designer Market.
In addition she takes part at Designers in Store within festival's Side Program, her work will be presented and sold at Stijl Maastricht boutique.

MAFAD presents Slow City at Ventura Lambrate

MAFAD - Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design presents ‘Slow City’ exhibition at Ventura Lambrate during in Milan.

Redefining their position and profile MAFAD invited alumni of the past 10 years to show work which refers towards the profiles MAFAD will be focusing on for the upcoming years, putting them in specific contexts such as: food, hospitality and luxury. Themes that are imbedded in Maastricht and where we as MAFAD will take its role in developing new definitions or values. The title slow city refers to the way these themes are being experienced in this area and the students and Alumni.  MAFAD presents a diversity of students, alumni designers and co-creations of the past 10 years. Among the exhibitors you can find many FASHIONCLASH designers. FASHIONCLASH founders and artistic directors Branko Popovic, Nawie Kuiper and Laurens Hamacher are also MAFAD alumni.

http://mafad.nl

Saba Tark at Centraal Museum Utrecht

photo: Richard Terborg

Saba Tark: Nomads of the World exhibition at Centraal Museum in Utrecht

This is the first in a series of exhibitions in which Centraal Museum and HKU (Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht) present the work of a promising talent. Each autumn the museum will showcase the work of an art or design graduate from HKU. The series kicks off with Saba Tark (1987, Baghdad), who studied at the MAFAD (Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts) and Design and at HKU. As a young fashion designer from a multicultural background, she is inspired by traditional craftsmanship and experimentation.
Her graduation project Nomads of the World is displayed in the New Utrecht Galleries. The collection is inspired by the fabrics of nomadic people, in which function and beauty are paramount. In this collection, it is as though Saba has created a modern tribe that has fled the hectic nature of everyday life in search of peace, quiet and freedom. In this collection, she has sought a new approach to design that translates craftsmanship and innovation into clothing: she has developed new materials and techniques, adapted design methods and changed silhouettes.

FAB / Runway Malta designer competition at FASHIONCLASH Festival

The focus of Saba Tark’s graduation project was haute couture and craftsmanship, creating a new image with age-old techniques combined with various materials. She draws attention to the cut, hand sewing and finish. Using moulage techniques (draping fabric on a tailor’s dummy) and a ‘zero waste’ design method, she created silhouettes with geometric forms, reducing waste material by 80%.

All the garments, fabrics and shoes are inspired by areas inhabited by nomadic peoples.

-> Sit-In at Central Museum 28 sep with director Edwin Jacobs. 

http://centraalmuseum.nl

Saba Tark participated in various FASHIONCLASH projects.

http://www.sabatark.com/

Saba Tark at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2012 exhibition

Local talents at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2014

IINUA Joelle Boers & Noir Near Future

FASHIONCLASH is an international platform but with strong roots and relation to its local talents.
During the 6th edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival several local designers presented their work. With 'local' we consider designer from the Euregio Meuse Rhein and lot only designer based in the region but also MAFAD academy alumni or designer born and raised in the region.
To strengthen the regional 'fashion' network and community we have initiated FAB Fashion Across Borders two years ago. FAB is a cooperation with Fashion Museum Hasselt and Designmetropole Aachen.

Next to FAB and FASHIONCLASH another important player in MAFAD, Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design. Majority of local designers are MAFAD alumni.
During the 6th edition of the festival MAFAD fashion graduates presented their collections and also the talented 3rd year students (ABOUT 11) where on display in the fashion show programme.
Furthermore it is very important that Maastricht has various academies, such as the renowned Toneelacademie Maastricht (drama school Maastricht). Each edition students and alumni of the drama academy are participating with 'fashion' related performances.

At the moment city of Maastricht is developing a policy around the concept of 'Mode Maastricht' (Fashion Maastricht). We have always believed in Maastricht's potential but it has to be about supporting the new generation of talents. That is the priority.

So, who are the local/regional talents? Here is a brief overview of some of them.

All images are by Team Peter Stigter.

Chapeau Grande Fête 2014

About 11 talents of MAFAD academy showed their work at Chapeau Grande Fête at Château St. Gerlach

http://www.chapeaumagazine.com

About 11 at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2014

On Friday the 13th of June, the first fashion show of the 2014 FASHIONCLASH Festival will showcase the newest collection of “About 11.” The name “About 11” regroups the very talented 3rd year students of the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design (ABKM). Their work will also be featured in the side program of the festival.