STRIKKS | FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017

Meet Maartje Boer and Suzanne Vaessen, the designers behind STRIKKS. Their studio is based in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Maartje graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Maastricht (NL), and afterwards, in cooperation with her co-designer Suzanne, she opened her design studio. Their main focus is knitting, co-creation with other designers and companies, as well as research of all possibilities in the field of clothing production. STRIKKS has showcased at several design weeks in cities like Eindhoven, Milan or Brussels. Their designs are published in various magazines and newspapers. During the 9th edition of the FASHIONCLASH Festival STRIKKS will showcase a research project regarding the way people respond to a knitwear collection that can be personalized. The project will be interactive and the prize might be a personalized garment from STRIKKS, so don't miss it! Find out more about the program and tickets here.

What are your biggest struggles as a young designer/artist?
Time, I would love to have more time! Time to spend on the knitting machine to invent new knitting structures, samples and yarn trials.

Does fashion makes sense to you? 
Fashion is our second skin, let’s make it worthy. As designers we should cherish our skin and make a beautiful and both functional layer for it. Life is too short for dressing down.

Do you think that fashion can contribute to a better world / better well-being, and what do you do to make a difference?
I find it important that people are aware of their clothes and production. That’s why I am investigating a new way of making fashion: a sustainable collection in which personalization has the lead.

What does a fashion collection look like, when model, color and knitting structure can be customized? 
With an interactive method I aim to engage the customer in the design process and give her more freedom of choice and better fit. This engagement is key for creating emotional value for clothing, and it leads to longer wear.

What senses are engaged in your creation process? 
My collection and our knitted designs are all about touch and sight! Touching fabrics and experiencing the feeling of a knitted fabric, the way the stitches are formed, it’s a very tangible thing.

How does technology change your creation process? 
In our studio technology is used both in the creation and in the production of our designs. More and more we use automated knitting machines to take over the job. But designing is also about zooming out, taking a step back and analyzing results. Craft and manual work will always be part of the process.

What is your bad habit? 
When I’m stressed, I start biting my nails, very nervously. It makes me think faster although it doesn't beautify my nails.

Are you a people's person or a loner?
Both, actually. I am a team player but I enjoy working on my own. Mostly on a quiet location without any music or people around me. In such situations I can deliver best.

Your favorite quote?
“You should not sacrifice your dreams to make other people happy”

Your favorite hashtags #?
#knitistheshit

Your favorite social media app?
Insta! And I think www.instagram.com/strikks is a very inspiring account :)

Maartje and Suzanne have a website where you can check out their collections and other projects that STRIKKS was involved in. If you are interested, click here.

Coffee Break Story #1

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 first Coffee Break is with:
SUZANNE VAESSEN – www.strikks.nl 

Suzanne Vaessen, 29, living in Maastricht and knitwear designer/ co-owner of STRIKKS designer knits. Suzanne is one of the designers in this year's edition of FabricAge. STRIKKS will also present its research collection at the FASHIONCLASH Designer Market (30 June-2 July 2017/SAMDecorfabriek), where they will be investigating the role consumers play in the customization of a (fashion)collection.

1. What makes the social design label & project FabricAge so unique and why do you want to be part of the project FabricAge? 

The interaction and commitment with other designers, crafts buddies and participants is very strong. FabricAge demands you to look at people who share your passion, but have different ways of making this passion come to life. As a designer, I’d hope to create a mindset that the image in your head can always be realised. Open up, talk to others, look around (and always keep your eyes on the prize!).

FASHIONCLASH @ Museumnacht Maastricht

FASHIONCLASH presents Ebby Port and Strikks at Museumnacht Maastricht, at the Boekhandel Dominicanen.

Following the success of the first edition, this year's edition welcomed over more than 3.750 visitors at the 13 Maastricht art venues from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM! museumnachtmaastricht.nl

LET’S (AD)DRESS THE PEOPLE!

LET’S (AD)DRESS THE PEOPLE! is a new multidisciplinary social design project based around traditional craft techniques and participation of particularly elderly. The project is developed in context of the FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016 theme Heritage and will take place at Centre Céramique, Coffeelovers and Plein 1992 in Maastricht.
 

 In the project the process is as important as the end result. This process of handicrafting within a team contributes to encounter, dialogue and sharing of knowledge. The project brings together the arts and crafts of fashion and textile design with the tangible and intangible heritage of our popular culture.

Designers Floor Nijdeken, Jolijn Fiddelaers of IXX Creates and Maartje Boer and Suzanne Vaessen of STRIKKS will work in teams with experienced craft buddies and elderly participnats with purpose to co-create new textile designs. The public space of Centre Céramique will temporary be transformed into a pop-up workshop where all teams will work together.

kick off encounter with designers at Plein 1992

The final presentation of the project will take place June 30 – July 3 during FASHIONCLASH Festival at Plein 1992, which will be temporarily transformed into a craft square. Everyone is invited to observe but also to take part with one of the teams and co-create!

LET’S (AD)DRESS THE PEOPLE! is an initiative of FASHIONCLASH in cooperation with Tout Maastricht. LET’S (AD)DRESS THE PEOPLE! is made possible thanks to generous support by Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Gemeente Maastricht, Stichting Elisabeth Strouven, Coffeelovers and Centre Céramique.

Crossover Collective | Floor Nijdeken 

STRIKKS

IXX creates

IXX creates

Dutch Design Week 2013

Jef Montes at Modebelofte 2013 (by You Are Here and Glamcult Studio)

FASHIONCLASH participants throughout Dutch Design Week 2013 programme.

FASHIONCLASH and De Bijenkorf for Maastricht and Euregio 2018

On Friday, 6 September, the European jury will decide which Dutch city will become the European Capital of Culture in 2018. In that light, the members of the jury visited Maastricht and the Meuse-Rhine Euregio today. around 3000 people gathered at the Vrijthof in Maastricht to show support.
FASHIONCLASH teamed up with De Bijenkorf Maastricht and gave a small fashion performance  on the square. Following to that models gave a performance in window display as a opening of the mini exhibition that you can enjoy this at De Bijenkorf Maastricht.
Now let's pray and hope that we win the title Maastricht for European Cultural Capital in 2018!

Presented designers are from Euregio Meuse-Rhine: Saba Tark, STRIKKS, Noir Near Future, Linda Friesen, Marlou Breuls, &TheGang, Branko Popovic, Nawie Kuiper.

Hair and Make-up: Nina Stevens, Bas Aarts, Dominique Cordaro

Check out the images!
© FASHIONCLASH 

FASHIONCLASH for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visited Maastricht. FASHIONCLASH was invited and we showcased some fashion talents.
Participating designers: Romy van Eijk, Linda Friesen, Atelier Milada, Nawie Kuiper, Saba Tark, STRIKKS and Branko Popovic.

Hair & make-up team: Bas Aarts, Nina Stevens,Priscilla Machils, Esther De Graaff and Dominique Cordaro. Here is an impression of this special day.

Pictures by BRANKOPOPOVICBLOG, more images available here.

STRIKKS - knitwear made in Maastricht

Please introduce yourself: 
STRIKKS is a design studio and label for the development and making of designer knits, located in Maastricht, The Netherlands. It is a lab for researching the possibilities of knitting and production processes. We offer a collection of clothing and interior products that are knitted, or that have a clear link to the knitting technique. Knitted pullovers, cardigans, scarves, pillows, throws or bags. Each product you buy, is not just one of many. We produce limited editions and special requests made to measure. 

What inspires you in general? 
Textures. That could be anything, from a microscopic image of paper and soap to the hesitating lines from a pencil or a marker. Just as long the image gives us enough information to create interesting constructions we can experiment with. 

X-MAS MARKED at C-Mine Genk

Andrea Mohr

X-MAS MARKED
In the weekend of 15 and 16 December, Design Platform Limburg is organising a sales event X-MAS MARKED* for participants of the project MARKED.
In addition, several other initiatives are invited to join forces for this special designer market and for a wide buying audience. MARKED is taking care of the Christmas atmosphere and location in collaboration with platforms like DSGNRMRKT, FASHIONCLASH, So On Concept and Markt van Morgen. 

MARKED

Strikks

A new year, a brand new concept and a new label. MARKED is the third edition of the C-mine pop-up shop. Ten designers (fashion, jewellery, Interior, graphic) will launch their new products in the market. C-mine, Town Genk and Design Platform Limburg are making this possible through counselling sessions and presentation moments. You can see and buy their work during X-MAS MARKED. X-MAS MARKED is a unique Christmas market with a design twist. Not the biggest Christmas tree or skating rink, but a sales platform for sixty designers to sell their products to a diverse audience.

http://www.marked.be/

Facebook event

Design-Boulevard during Inspire City in Heerlen

Sander Claessen

During INSPIRE CITY 2012, DDDE (Dutch Design Desk Europe) will present twenty designers from the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (Maastricht, Aachen, Hasselt, Heerlen and Liège) at the Heerlen Woonboulevard.
The designers were selected in cooperation with FASHIONCLASH, Designmetropole Aachen, Zachte G and MOS store.
Check out the designers at www.design-boulevard.nl.
INSPIRE CITY 2012 takes place from 12th till 21th October.
With over 4 million visitors annually, of which approximately 35% from Germany and Belgium, Woonboulevard Heerlen makes the theme “Design für Alle” accessible for a wide audience in the Euregion. The theme stands for “quality in everyday things for everyone.” In cooperation with the Foundation Dutch Design Desk Europe, the first designer promenade in the Netherlands will be presented at the opening night on Friday, October 12.

Successful first edition of FASHIONCLASH Market

Centre Ceramique

FASHIONCLASH Market celebrated it's first edition last weekend in Centre Ceramique (3 & 4 December).
It was such a success thanks to all the designers that showcased their wonderful work, all the visitors, The Masters, FASHIONCLASH workshop for kids, volunteers, friends, Centre Ceramique and FC Team. See you next time!

* all images by © Branko Popovic

FASHIONCLASH Market presents

What can you expect this weekend at FASHIONCLASH Market!

More than 40 designers will be showcasing and selling their work. To give you an impression we present to you these labels: The Furansu, Unique clothing, knits and accessoires by Nina Führer, unique knits by a new concept striKKs, great dresses with unique prints by IXX and MLY by Emily Hermans. For her label MLY, Emily Hermans designs prints and textiles, which makes the clothing very unique.
The designers will be there, so you can get to know them and have a closer look at their unique designs.