Building New Bridges & Looking Forward - A Review of FASHIONCLASH Festival: The Digital Edition

Spread over a three-day period, from Friday, February 26th to Sunday, February 28th, FASHIONCLASH Festival invites a new wave of designers, artists, musicians and performers to showcase their world to like-minded creatives, using the immersive and interactive tools offered by digital technologies.

Written by Philippe Pourhashemi - Independent coach & stylist and long-term FASHIONCLASH supporter

Openness, generosity and intimacy are some of the keywords defining this unique and innovative edition, placed under the sign of craft, as well as personal expression and boundless ideas. Designers are now willing to reveal the essence of their work, while sharing freely the intricacy of their technique, something Branko Popović, co-founder and co-director of the Festival, sees as a significant step towards a new path: “I was impressed by the resilience of the designers involved, despite the challenges brought by COVID-19. This young generation is looking for ways to present and promote itself efficiently, but it’s also very open and willing to share its know-how and processes with others. 5 or 6 years ago, designers would have been much more secretive about their ideas, marking a key shift within creative spheres.”

The Locals - MICHI’M x MAXNIEREISEL
Photo: Pasarella

Not only does this 12th edition offer exhibitions -which can be toured digitally- as well as original films, personal statements and performances, it also features interactive events, such as the live announcement of the winner of the Fashion Makes Sense Award on the 27th, and a Community Talk broadcast on the 28th, giving participants and organizers the chance to gather online and exchange ideas while discussing their experience of the Festival itself.

Unlike previous editions, which may have been more militant in spirit and vocal about certain societal and political issues, this Digital Edition underlines a need for closeness, togetherness and understanding, using the digital as an entry into subjective -and highly private- landscapes.

More than ever, designers are willing to assert their own strengths and singularity, as well as the complexity of their craft, inspiring us with their poetic and forward-thinking vision.

Photo Philippe: Filip de Roe

The Clash House - Marlou Breuls Creative Studio
Photo: Pasarella

Meet the Moderators for FASHIONCLASH Festival

We are pleased to introduce you to our moderators for this digital edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival!

Class of 2020
Rolien Zonneveld - Editor and writer in Arts, Culture and Fashion

Photo: Laura Knipsael

The Locals + The Clash House
Stephanie Afrifa - Cultural producer, journalist, speaker and Editor-at-Large at Vogue Netherlands

Photo: Aline Bouma

New Fashion Narratives

Philippe Pourhashemi - Fashion writer, consultant and stylist

Photo: Laura Knipsael

Fashion Makes Sense Award Show

Anne-Ro Klevant Groen - Marketing & Communications Director at Fashion for Good and Editor-at-Large Sustainability at Vogue Netherlands

Photo: Presstigieux

Find the full program of FASHIONCLASH Festival on www.fashionclash.nl

(NL) Co-founder Branko Popovic live bij NPO FunX

Branko Popovic was op woensdagmiddag 17 februari live te horen in de uitzending van ‘Onze Stad’ op FunX, waar hij vertelde over de aanstaande digitale editie van FASHIONCLASH Festival. Luister het fragment hier terug!

KEVIN.MURPHY: Partner in creating high-fashion hairstyles

We are pleased to introduce you to our long-term partner for FASHIONCLASH Festival in creating the most high-fashion catwalk hairstyles: KEVIN.MURPHY!

Born from the same philosophy as skincare, KEVIN.MURPHY products are weightlessly designed to deliver performance, strength and longevity. Combining hi-tech scientific knowledge with the best natural ingredients available, KEVIN.MURPHY products provide the tools to recreate high-fashion runway looks in the salon or at-home, while always remaining kind to the environment.

KEVIN.MURPHY cares about the environment and recognizes the seriousness of dangerous climate change. Since its start in 2004 it has always been a company that puts sustainability high on its priority list and takes great pride in the choices they make.

From ingredients to packaging
To ensure the KEVIN.MURPHY range is of the very highest natural quality, they only use natural ingredients from sources that are sustainable and renewable and are harvested utilizing methods that do not cause any harm to the environment. All their primary packaging is made from post-consumer waste, and all of their secondary packaging is made from paper or cardboard. Their square packaging holds more volume and uses 40% less plastic.

Never tested on animals
KEVIN.MURPHY products are designed to deliver performance, strength and longevity. That’s why their products are tested on models, not animals! They never conduct nor commission tests on animals. Since 2011, KEVIN.MURPHY has been certified according to the standard of one of the largest animal rights organizations in the world, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and are one of their recommended ‘Cruelty Free’ companies.

Giving Back
THE HEART OF KEVIN.MURPHY is the area in which they focus their efforts towards charity and giving back to the community. This is a is a non-profit arm of the company and its sole purpose is to fund charities that are close to our hearts and in need of help, focusing on both human and environmental issues. 

KEVIN.MURPHY will provide the hair styles & products for the models and performers during The Clash House digital show presentation of FASHIONCLASH Festival.

Blanche Dael: Continuing our shared love for coffee

Being a FASHIONCLASH Festival partner since the early days, we are pleased to team up with Blanche Dael again and continue our shared love for coffee for the digital edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival!

Blanche Dael is the traditional coffee roaster and tea bakery from Maastricht, who have been roasting fresh coffee and packaging high-quality tea every day, since 1878. They proudly do this for the hospitality industry, offices and for the people at home: people who choose honest products with a real story.

New Flavours
Craftsmanship is a great asset within their craft. It is a continuous learning and development process for new flavours and the techniques of tomorrow. We strive for the subtle difference of the best. Flavours and aromas that invite you to drink a second cup.

Socially responsible
Entrepreneurship is a social activity for Blanche Dael. This is reflected in conscious employment practices, in our biodegradable coffee packaging, in participating in local partnerships and in paying a fair price to farmers. With their own foundation Escuela Blanche Dael they support educational projects in coffee country Guatemala.

You can visit the new Blanche Dael coffee roastery, tea bakery and coffee & tea café by the end of 2020. Keep an eye on their website, Instagram or Facebook to stay updated about the official opening.

During the digital edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival from 26-28 February you will get a glimpse of the new home of Blanche Dael as a background of the digital show presentations of the Fashion Makes Sense Award and The Locals, located in the monumental Brikkenbouw in the Sphinxkwartier in Maastricht,

PL-Line: Long-term partner of FASHIONCLASH Festival

PL-Line is a luxurious boutique, which is divided into two sophisticated stores, in authentic atmosphere. Both stores are located in the city center of Maastricht. Founder Leon Holla has accomplished to create brand awareness in the best way possible. Both PL-Line City Outfits PL-Line Luxury Sportswear are well known by fashionable men and women. Not only for its wide range of luxurious brands but for its upright and right service as well.

PL-Line has been a long-term partner of FASHIONCLASH Festival and we are happy to have them on our side again!

Luxurious & Fashionable
PL-Line City Outfits offers you a very wide range of the most luxurious and fashionable brands of the moment, for both men and women. Well-known brands as Balmain, Givenchy, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Thom Browne, Prada, Balenciaga, Valentino and many more are part of the beautiful collection PL-Line has to offer keeping customers' ideas and feelings in mind.

Upcoming streetwear brands
In addition to these high-end brands, PL-Line Luxury Sportswear will keep you up to date with the latest trends. Combining the most recent collections from leading brands such as Stone Island, Dsquared2 and Moncler with upcoming street wear brands like OFF-WHITE, Palm Angels, Amiri and many more. Founder Leon Holla and his staff look forward to welcome you in their store to experience PL-Line ‘s services or on their online web shop.

“FASHION IS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR OWN PERSONALITY”

— LEON HOLLA, Founder PL- Line

Photo: Casablanca FW 2020 (PL-Line)

Art of Colors & INIKA: Proud new partner of FASHIONCLASH Festival

Welcome to the FASHIONCLASH Family! We are pleased to introduce you to this year’s make-up partner for the digital edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival: Art of Colors & INIKA, a collaboration between a highly respected make-up artist school based in Amsterdam and a globally recognized and trusted go-to for 100% organic, vegan, halal and cruelty free make-up brand.

The two brands will combine their philosophies and merge both creative make-up skills and conscious make-up products.

Art of Colors
The place to be where you can launch your career professionally as a makeup artist or hairstylist! Founded and established by a dedicated team that ensures that students will not only learn the profession and but also experience what it is like to work as a makeup artist, during various internships and events. Art of Colors provides lessons in small groups, where students learn to work both technically and creatively in order to develop into a makeup artist with an individual style.

Photo: Art of Colors: Make-up by Jimmy Stam, Model: Jara Valbracht

The training facilities of Art of Colors are centrally located in historical city center buildings in the heart of both Amsterdam and Hoorn. Art of Colors is the first make-up school that provides their students the opportunity to work with make-up brand INIKA.

INIKA
A 100% authentic, natural beauty brand. No footnotes, no asterisks, just the next generation of beauty standards. INIKA believes that it is important to know what we are putting on our skin.

You will not find any synthetic preservatives such as parabens, nor synthetic fragrances used for masking in INIKA products. With the strictest natural ingredient criteria of any makeup and skincare brand in the world, their beauty products use only the finest botanicals and pure minerals which are proven to perform. No silicones, chemicals or nasties - just all the good stuff that nourishes your skin from the inside and the outside.

All products of INIKA Organic Make-up are fully natural, organic, vegan, halal & not tested on animals.

Art of Colors & INIKA Organic will provide the make-up for the models and performers for the digital presentations of FASHIONCLASH Festival: the Fashion Makes Sense Award Show, The Clash House and The Locals.

New date for digital edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival

After a few weeks of investigating the possibilities to create a COVID-proof 12th edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival, we are pleased to announce a new date for FASHIONCLASH Festival, the digital edition:

26-28 February 2021

The full program of this digital edition will be announced in due time and we will continue to introduce you to all the participants and share behind the scenes stories via our Instagram account.

Keep me posted about the digital program

Keep me posted about the digital program for FASHIONCLASH Festival

A special thanks goes out to all the participants, our partners & sponsors and volunteers; the current circumstances challenge everyone to appeal to their resilience and it is fantastic to see how everyone involved moves with us in this!

Campaign image credits:
Concept and design - Iris van Wees
Graphic Design - Ivo Straetmans | Via Story