Between Borders features many designers from FASHIONCLASH community

Between Borders - Migration, power and boundless imagination
3 June - 22 October 2023

On Friday June 2nd Tussen Grenzen (Between Borders) exhibition was opened at Museum Arnhem. The exhibition features designers that have been part of one or more FASHIONCLASH projects. Branko Popovic, artistic director of FASHIONCLASH team as one of them.

On Sunday June 18th, the Talk | Perspectives on Unions with State of Fashion will take place. During this interactive talk, moderator Branko Popovic explores with Denzel Veerkamp, ​​Loïs Brandsen and Kalkidan Hoex how connection is reflected in their work. How can connecting cultures, backgrounds and perspectives bring about change in fashion? The (fashion) makers will not only speak, but will activate and present their work in a unique way.
More info: here

With the exhibition Between Borders, Museum Arnhem offers different perspectives on contemporary migration. The museum invites visitors to delve into personal stories about migration. These are stories by visual artists, designers and the public itself. The experience of migration, recognition and empathy is central to this.

All over the world, people move across borders for all kinds of reasons. In the 21st century, more people than ever migrate for all kinds of political, economic and environmental reasons. At the same time, travelling is increasingly difficult for a great many people. How difficult, or easy, it is, is often determined by your passport. Which countries welcome you and which do not? And when you are in another country, when do you feel at home? In the exhibition Between borders, artists, fashion and jewellery designers, and Arnhemmers alike share their answers to those questions.

Between borders consists of two parts. From 3 June, young fashion and jewellery designers living in the Netherlands will show work about living and working between two worlds. From 15 July, (inter)national artists and Arnhemmers will also share their personal experiences with borders and migration.

Migration and fashion
The first part of Between Borders opens on June 3. It shows body-related design, such as fashion and jewelry, by 19 designers living in the Netherlands with a migration background. Migration has long been a topical subject in the fashion world, especially with young makers such as Armia Yousefi, Lisa Konno and Denzel Veerkamp. Interest in this theme is also increasing in the jewelery industry. This becomes visible in the work of designers such as Luisa Kuschel, Kalkidan Hoex and Fleuri la Belle, who graduated from ArtEZ. The exhibition focuses on the personal stories of the makers and their experiences as designers in the Netherlands. Seven of them made new work especially for Between Borders. In addition, filmmaker Elisabetta Agyeiwaa is making a documentary in which nine participating designers have their say.

The month of June is fashion month in Arnhem. In Arnhem, various partners (State of Fashion, ArtEZ, Fashion + Design Festival Arnhem (FDFA), Rijn IJssel and Museum Arnhem) work together in the field of fashion. Museum Arnhem and FDFA have joined forces to choose eight makers who are affiliated with the city of Arnhem. Their work is shown in Between Borders.

Designers
In Between Borders you can admire work by Armia Yousefi, Branko Popovic, Chequita Nahar, David Paulus, Denzel Veerkamp, ​​Fleuri la Belle, Garcia Bello, Kalkidan Hoex, Karim Adduchi, Lisa Konno, Loïs Brandsen, Luisa Kuschel, Marcos Kueh, Maja Simišić , Mehdi Mashayekhi, Murat Akbas, Xhosa, Yinka Buutfeld, Zyanya Emperor. 

An update from Team FASHIONCLASH

FASHIONCLASH has moved organically over the years, driven by commitment, intuition and friendship. Since 2009, we have realized more than 200 projects and offered more than 1000 designers and artists a stage and supported them in their practice development. Always driven by a community of designers, friends, family, entrepreneurs, visitors, volunteers and other colleagues or passers-by. The campaign of the 14th edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival is an ode to that. 

Things are constantly changing. Nawie Kuiper and Laurens Hamacher have decided after 14 years to further develop their dreams and ambitions outside of FASHIONCLASH. They will leave the team on December 31 2022, and step down from the board of the foundation. 

Branko Popovic, Els Petit and Jessie Beurskens continue in the same vision, mission and spirit of FASHIONCLASH to use fashion for a positive change in the (fashion) world and support the new generation of designers. They build on a hospitable and indestructible house on which Nawie and Laurens have left an indelible mark. 

FASHIONCLASH is entering a new phase, professionally and personally. It's exciting, but it always has been. Filled with pride, love and carried by friendship, we thank all who have supported FASHIONCLASH, and in advance everyone who will continue and/or do so. 

Our biggest THANKS goes out to champions and top colleagues, in heart and in deed, that are Nawie and Laurens. Founders and honorary members of FASHIONCLASH Family! 

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All photos: Laura Knipsael

De Limburger: "FASHIONCLASH Festival wordt in 2021 een online feest voor mode, kunst en talent"

Dit artikel werd gepubliceerd in De Limburger, 15-12-2020

Nieuw werk van de uit Limburg afkomstige ontwerpster Marlou Breuls is te zien op FASHIONCLASH Festival 2021. Afbeelding: Nikola Lamburov

De twaalfde editie van het FASHIONCLASH Festival wordt vanwege corona een geheel digitale editie van 26 tot en met 28 februari 2021. Geen (mode)shows en catwalks in Maastricht, maar wel interviews met ontwerpers, een digitale tentoonstelling en de Fashion Makes Sense Award-uitreiking.

DOOR KIM NOACH

De rust die op een grijze donderdagmiddag in december heerst in het kantoor van de FASHIONCLASH-crew aan de Batterijstraat in Maastricht is bedrieglijk. Achter toetsenborden en computerschermen bij creatievelingen thuis wordt hard gewerkt om alle recent gemaakte videobeelden, foto’s, interviews en informatie van het aanstaande FASHIONCLASH Festival te verwerken. Het moet allemaal van 26 tot en met 28 februari 2021 online klaarstaan.

Negentig procent wat je in februari online gaat zien, stond klaar in het draaiboek voor afgelopen november toen er nog sprake was dat het festival fysiek zou plaatsvinden, vertelt Branko Popovic. Samen met Laurens Hamacher en Nawie Kuiper is hij drijvende kracht achter FASHIONCLASH. Hamacher die ook bij het gesprek aanschuift, knikt en voegt toe: „Toen duidelijk werd dat het festival fysiek niet mogelijk was, hebben we de plannen binnen een week omgezet.” De heren zijn trots op het team dat zo hard werkt om het festival – ook in deze vreemde coronatijden – mogelijk te maken.

Charlotte Simons uit Roggel is op het FASHIONCLASH Festival te zien met haar ontwerpen. Foto: still uit de korte film van Charlotte Simons

Afgestudeerd

De eerste digitale editie van het multidisciplinaire mode/kunst/performance-festival heeft misschien niet de energie van een live-ontmoeting, maar biedt kunstenaars en ontwerpers een kans om hun nieuwe werk toch te laten zien tijdens (semi-)lockdowns. Je zal maar net afgestudeerd zijn als ontwerper aan de academies in Maastricht of Eindhoven en nu geen podium hebben om je werk aan de wereld te tonen. Daarom is het zeker nu belangrijk, benadrukt Popovic, om alumni (net als alle voorgaande edities) een prominente plek te geven op het festival. Zoals bijvoorbeeld Charlotte Simons uit Roggel die studeerde aan de Design Academy Eindhoven en kleding ontwerpt geïnspireerd door Japanse anime en popcultuur.

Als het team van FASHIONCLASH iets geleerd heeft het afgelopen coronajaar, is dat hun website goed gevonden wordt nu fysieke ontmoetingen onmogelijk zijn. Branko Popovic: „Gelukkig hebben workshops en vooral ook onze coachingstrajecten inhoudelijk niets aan kracht verloren, dat blijkt online ook te werken.”

Festival

Voor de komende digitale editie van het festival koos het Fashionclash team ervoor om deelnemers en ontwerpers online in de spotlight te zetten met hulp van interviews en video’s die het werk van alle kanten uitgebreid laten zien. Waar de modellen normaal gesproken met ferme pas langs je lopen op de catwalk, wordt met hulp van een videoteam nu letterlijk ingezoomd op de ontwerpen. Ook heeft het team recent - onder strenge coronamaatregelen - een tentoonstelling opgebouwd die vastgelegd is door de vaste filmcrew bestaande uit makers Steve Iserger en Daniël van Hauten. Laurens Hamacher: „We vinden het ook belangrijk dat we ons vaste team inschakelen, die verantwoordelijkheid voelen we heel sterk. Zij hebben net als anderen het ook moeilijk vanwege corona. Daar waar je kunt, proberen we hen te helpen.”

Om de spanning en vooral ook de nieuwsgierigheid naar het digitale festival zo goed mogelijk op te bouwen, wordt er vooraf geen video of ander beeldmateriaal ‘vrijgegeven’.

Werk van Helène Klein uit Maastricht, die vanaf komende juli start met haar sieradenlijn en accessoires onder de naam Studio | HEEY. Foto: Ginger Bloemen

Onder de titel ‘locals’ plaatst FASHIONCLASH Euregionaal en Limburgs talent digitaal in de etalage op de website. Zoals bijvoorbeeld werk van Helène Klein uit Maastricht (Studio | HEEY) en Ashley Luypaers uit Heerlen (PAERS). Het werk van de locals wordt online gepresenteerd door vier jonge theatermakers die in 2020 afstudeerden aan de Toneelacademie Maastricht en de ontwerpen in een groepsperformance tonen.

Ook de uitreiking van de Fashion Makes Sense Award komt de komende editie voorbij. Vrijdag 26 februari 2021 wordt de winnaar bekendgemaakt.

Lees hier het artikel (alleen voor abonnees van De Limburger)

State of Fashion: This is an Intervention

State of Fashion, a platform originated to re-think the fashion system, has announced their activities program containing four interventions: Introspection, Origins, Transition and Release. 

At State of Fashion the current game-changing events in the world, Covid-19 and worldwide Black Lives Matter movement, made them reflect their message. So far, they addressed the ecological footprint of fashion production, the promises of new materials, and fairness related to labour and working conditions, to explore how to redefine the ethics and values of fashion. This framework was the focus of their previous curator José Teunissen, and the 2018 exhibition ‘Searching for the New Luxury’. The events of 2020 almost automatically led to the new, broader focus of de-colonialism, that until now has been largely overlooked.

This is An Intervention

In the coming months, they will host four interventions featuring controversial readings, online talks, interactive workshops, and inspiring videos, films and visuals about the fashion system, its flaws and its future. First, they take a critical look at the fashion system and our role in it during an intervention dubbed Introspection. In the second intervention themed Origins in November, we trace the roots of the system and highlight work of those unseen. In the new year, we search for ways to rebuild the system in the third intervention themed Transition. Finally, in parallel with the announcement of a new curator team for State of Fashion 2022, we look for ways forward, in the intervention themed Release.

Join the conversation: 28 October, in Whataboutery #1

For each intervention, they invite thinkers and makers from different parts of the world to take over our platform. For the first intervention in October, they collaborate amongst others anthropologist Sandra Niessen (Research Collective for Decolonizing Fashion) and curator and writer Stephanie Afrifa for an introspection. This intervention dives into the question of what happens to designers, labels, producers, educators and others in fashion, when we revise the colonial values fashion is still largely based on?

Longread 'Regenerative Fashion: There can be no Other'
Strategies to revise fashion are based primarily on two issues: material and labour. As laudable and important as these efforts are, they are not sufficient to solve the crisis we are in.
Read 'Regenerative Fashion: There can be no Other'

Whataboutery #1
October 28th This ‘Whataboutery’ offers you the chance to listen to voices that are being systematically silenced and erased by the fashion industry and gives you the opportunity to enrich your perspective...
Find out more about Whataboutery #1

Plug-In: Culture.Fashion
A Plug-In is organized under the umbrella of the values driven and open network Culture.Fashion. Under this Plug-In, content connections are made between Dutch platforms such as OSCAM/Mafb, M-ODE and FASHIONCLASH that deal with similar themes within their current activities. On behalf of several platforms, three designers/makers are invited to actively join the conversation.
Amber Jea Slooten (The Fabricant) is one of the designers featured in the OSCAM x Modemuse: The New Normal exhibition. Her work has been presented via various platforms in the past years, currently on show in The New Normal (until 2nd of November). Since the lockdown, many socio-political issues have been amplified, from social distancing to the #BlackLivesMatter-movement. As a society, we are asked to find a ‘new normal’. But what does the new normal actually mean? OSCAM/Modemuze asked designers and bloggers to tell what it is that occupies their mind right now and reflect on these times on a personal, professional, social and global scale through the lens of fashion. The New Normal is on show until 2nd of November 2020.

Giorgio Toppin (XHOSA) has presented work with both Mafb and FASHIONCLASH projects. With his work, Giorgio tries to tell the story of what it means to be a black man in today’s society. Currently, he is working on a presentation for FASHIONCLASH Festival. This presentation will be developed in cooperation with Black Harmony and is part of the project around the theme of diaspora. For this he goes back to his roots in Suriname to research local craftmanschip. Lastly, the Toneelacademie Maastricht performance graduate Princes Isatu Hassan Bangura will join. Together with Via Zuid, FASHIONCLASH is co-producting her graduation project ‘Great Apes Of The West Coast’.

In addition, iArts Maastricht students are invited to actively join by including the dialogue in their research. Together with second year students from iArts Maastricht, Nina Willems and Linda Valkeman are building a ‘Decolonial Counter Archive’. In this archive they try to make stories and images from non-western cultures, that are often not visible in "regular archives", visible for the audience. ‘a Fashion Counter Archive’ is based on the archive of the preliminary research by Linda Valkeman in her own projects, and artistic research, done by the students in the months leading up to FASHIONCLASH Festival. “It’s our aim to enter into a new dialogue with visitors, based on the 'Decolonial Counter Archive.'”

Want to become part of the Culture.Fashion go to www.culture.fashion and subscribe.

www.culture.fashion
Instagram: @culture.fashion.nl

Outsiderwear

OUTSIDERWEAR
Streetwear by Outsider and Insider Artists

Outsider artists tend to be a little bit different. They often sidestep a conventional arts education, and operate outside of the mainstream art world. Sometimes they face mental or physical disabilities, homelessness and vulnerability. 

Outsiderwear is a new collaborative project combining talented outsider artists with a range of fashion designers and creatives, both emerging and established.

For the first edition of Outsiderwear, some 40 out- and insider artists join forces: sometimes in pairs, as well as in other, larger compositions. In the coming months, these teams will undertake a diverse range of creative projects: from performances and exhibitions to a series of band shirts and an underwear line. The result of these experimental collaborations will be shown and sold during the multidisciplinary Outsiderwear Festival, running from 12 March to 25 April 2021 in Amsterdam.

Outsiderwear is an initiative of artist Jan Hoek and Foundation Captain Hoek, in collaboration with Foundation M-ODE and Outsider Art Galerie.

Outsiderwear Festival
Lasting six weeks, the first Outsiderwear Festival seeks to celebrate creativity in all its forms, combining the worlds of outsider and insider artists in stimulating ways. Multiple locations in Amsterdam will host surprising exhibitions, shop-in-shops, an activist photo campaign, and a number of tours and talks.
Confirmed festival locations include Outsider Art Galerie, Hermitage Amsterdam, Patta Store, Galerie Vriend van Bavink and Zeedijk60.

The participants come from a range of varied backgrounds, from niche artists and big streetwear labels to independent designers and visual artists. During the Outsiderwear Festival, the following collaborations will be presented:

Theatergroep LeBelle X Duran Lantink 


Daniël Jos Eerenberg X Wobbewear


Ben Augustus X Piet Parra


Bruin Parry X Jan Hoek 


Antoine Monod de Froideville X Bonne Suits


Nielsjan Tavernier X Tom van de Borght


Rudy de Gruyl X Benedikt Fischer 


Stichting ArtBRUUT / Makom inloophuis X Tenant of Culture


Joey Bocciardo X Fenna Miedema X Lionel Plak X Nancy X MULAS HYBRID HAUS X SUMIBU X Tirino Yspol


Aadesokan X Maxivive (Lagos)


Ayse Somunchu X Bas Kosters


Regillio Benjamin X Desmond Tjon A Koy X Patta 


Mark Bossink X Sophie Hardeman


Sijtse Keur X Norbert de Jong X Alexxx X Hans Klastat X Minke de Fonkert X Bonne Suits 

Outsiderwear Bandshirts van o.a. Cengiz Imamdi 

Outsiderwear X Tattoo-project


Speech performance by Ulrike Möntmann


Various solo presentations, including Johan Vanderscheldenen and Naomi Schupper

Despite increasing attention for outsider art – now with its own museums, biennials and galleries – this world rarely experiences close contact with the creative industry at large. Outsiderwear wants to break this dichotomy, because many outsiders deserve wider recognition, whilst many insider makers feel a deep affinity with unconventional outsider practices.

Jan Hoek: "The first collaborations of Outsiderwear are beginning to take shape. It’s so special to see how logically the collaboration between outsiders and insiders works. I look forward to a future in which the boundaries between these two worlds fade away.”
Outsiderwear is supported by Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, VSB Fonds, Rabobank Amsterdam, StimuleringsfondsCreatieve Industrie, Stichting DOEN, Prins Bernhard Cultuurf onds and Stichting Cordaan and works together with Outsider Art Galerie, Herenplaats, De Volksbond (GJ Scheurleerweg), Stichting ArtBRUUT / Makom inloophuis, De Witte Olifant, Bijzonder Amsterdams, TheatergroepLeBelle and De Meijboom.

www.outsiderwear.nl  
instagram.com/outsiderwear_official

AGENDA
OUTSIDERWEAR FESTIVAL AMSTERDAM
12 March – 25 April
Presentation out- and insider collaborations. Collection sales begin. Webshop launch. Opening party. Exhibitions, tours and talks. Locations: Outsider Art Galerie, Hermitage Amsterdam, Super SEXYLAND World, Vriend van Bavink, Patta Store, Galerie Fleur & Wouter, ABCND Store and Zeedijk60.

OUTSIDERWEAR ON TOUR
March – August 2021 Expansion of collection. Exhibitions.
Shop-in-shops. Biennial presentation.

Esrah van Rooij - Theater LeBelle X Duran Lantink

Tom van der Borght wins the Grand Prix and Public Prize at Hyères Festival

Belgian designer Tom van der Borght, the winner of FASHIONCLASH Festival 2019 Award, won the Première Vision Grand Prize at the 35th edition of the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography. The prize was announced by a jury headed by designer Jonathan Anderson, founder of JW Anderson and creative director of Loewe.

“What we really, really admired in the work of Tom van der Borght is that it was a totally new type of form, new type of shape, new type of commitment to a silhouette, and it was uncompromising,” designer Jonathan Anderson, head of the jury, said during a remote award ceremony. “And in this moment we are in, we as a jury believe that it was about starting this new decade with newness, this idea of originality.” Anderson continued: “It was not about looking at something for its automatic commercial sense. It was about the beauty within fashion, the handmade, the technique, and the risk in it. And I think Tom has really achieved something in what he has done and I think he will go on to do very well.”

Tom Van Der Borght started his fashion education at the age of 30 and founded his label in 2013 after graduating from the Stedelijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten Sint-Niklaas. Recently he joined the Master of Theatre study at Toneelacademie Maastricht.

'About The Undiscovered Future' is premiering during Dutch Design Week 2020

‘About The Undiscovered Future’ publication by Content Story is premiering during Dutch Design Week 2020. The publication features contribution by co -founder of FASHIONCLASH as well as other professionals who have been involved in FASHIONCLASH projects such as Matylda Krzykowski, Diane Pernet and Philippe Pourhashemi.

To retain the thoughts that were extremely loud when coronavirus began to spread, we asked the creative community to answer two questions: -What are you grateful for? (It can be a small, personal thing that you have learned during this time) -What is your dream? (for the world after the pandemic) 

The outline of the project was created at a time when the Corona virus began to spread aggressively across Europe, North America, South America, Africa and other continents, with a declaration of a global pandemic following soon after that. The mission was to retain the values that were extremely clear during those days. 

Among the 25 personalities who shared their thoughts and dreams were: Alice Rawsthorn, BCXSY, Branko Popovic, Dominic Wilcox, Fernanda Torre, Formafantasma, James Auger, Jan Boelen, Karolina Hałatek, Kathryn Best, Koert van Mensvoort, Marije Vogelzang, Matylda Krzykowski, Ross Lovegrove.

About Content Story

Established in 2017, the foundation has the purpose of implementing projects on the peripheries of design, art, technology and experience. Content Story believes that there is power in creativity, conscious design and quality information, a power that enables people to create social change. To date, the foundation organized 3 major projects: "BODY" exhibition during European Capital of Culture, "OVERLOAD" at Gdynia Design Days, and the conference "Undiscovered – Stories about Experience”.

Fashion Makes Sense Award 2019 winner GARCIABELLO wins REDRESS DESIGN AWARD 2020

Environmental charity Redress concluded the Redress Design Award 2020 Grand Final of the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition with menswear designer Le Ngoc Ha Thu (Vietnam) and womenswear designer Juliana Garcia Bello (Argentina) winning significant sustainable design collaboration prizes with global leaders, respectively VF Corporation’s Timberland and award-winning upcycled brand, The R Collective.

Redress’ 10th anniversary competition cycle, with lead sponsorship from Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, catapults bold new sustainable fashion talent into the spotlight as fashion’s waste crisis mounts due to Covid-19.

The Redress Design Award 2020 prize winners are:

• The Redress Design Award 2020 Womenswear Prize with The R Collective: Juliana Garcia Bello, Argentina

• The Redress Design Award 2020 Menswear Prize with VF Corporation and Timberland: Le Ngoc Ha Thu, Vietnam

• The Redress Design Award 2020 Runner-up Prize with Orsola de Castro: Ruth Weerasinghe, Sri Lanka

• The Redress Design Award 2020 Hong Kong Best Prize Winner: Grace Lant, Hong Kong

“Fashion’s waste crisis can’t be swept under the carpet any longer,” says Christina Dean, Founder of Redress and The R Collective. “Covid-19’s retail and supply chain disruptions have stranded materials in warehouses, factories and stores globally. Now is the time to catalyse the circular economy - and this is Redress’ focus. The Redress Design Award has for 10 years educated designers about circular design. The industry must not waste the opportunities that Covid-19’s crisis is offering.”

The two winners out-designed hundreds of applicants from 48 countries. Menswear winner Le Ngoc Ha Thu shared, “These last few weeks with the Redress Design Award has been such a nourishing and beneficial experience and joining the Timberland and VF teams is going to be an honour. They are such an amazing brand when it comes to sustainability - I am ready to learn everything I can from them.”

“I have learned so much during my participation in the Redress Design Award and have definitely come out of this with a reinforced feeling that collaboration is the key. We designers need to share our strengths and be inspired by each other to keep finding solutions to the mounting levels of textile waste,” womenswear winner Juliana Garcia Bello added.

Victor Tsang, Head of CreateHK, shared his congratulations to the awardees of the competition, “The Redress Design Award has established as a recognised brand in the sustainable fashion design community over the past years by educating emerging fashion designers in order to drive growth towards a circular fashion system”.

In the two weeks leading up to the live Grand Final, the 10 finalists, from 10 regions, successfully completed a gruelling series of virtual design and business challenges, which focused on real life sustainability business cases

with a spotlight on Covid-19 impacted waste, supported by VF Corporation and TAL Group, makers of one in six dress shirts in the US. The ‘Digital Up-cycling Challenge’ saw the finalists using Browzwear digital design and sampling software to create up-cycled concepts to turn TAL’s Covid-19-impacted deadstock garment waste into new products for retail. The ‘Made for Change Timberland Challenge’ saw the finalists develop sustainable and scalable business concepts, focusing on responsible design and re-manufacturing fabric deadstock.

“Our collaboration with Redress, now in its second year, connects us to talented, emerging designers who are passionate about creating fashionable, compelling designs with environmental responsibility in mind,” said competition judge Kevin Bailey, VF’s Executive Vice President and Group President, Asia Pacific Region and Emerging Brands. “We are constantly inspired by their commitment to circular design and creativity. These are the future leaders who are going to help drive lasting and positive change throughout our global industry and we are proud to be part of their journey.”

Education forms the Redress Design Award’s core with sustainable and circular design content delivered to more than 50,000 designers since the inaugural cycle through in-person lectures and academies, and online materials available in a combination of English, Chinese, and French. The competition has the support of 140+ universities worldwide.

Celebrating a decade of impact

To mark Redress’ decade of impact, the Grand Final also celebrated the Redress Design Award 2020 Alumni All Stars. This accolade was awarded to highest-achieving competition alumni, who were shortlisted from over 200 designers from 37 regions. Pat Guzik (Poland) and Annaiss Yukra (Peru) were awarded the All Star Prize, each receiving a retail partnership for their brands with sustainable marketplace, Staiy, and all seven All Star Alumni were awarded a significant showcase at Galeries Lafayette Shanghai forming part of the ‘Fashioning Change, Today and Tomorrow’ campaign and gaining brand promotion within China’s fast-growing fashion market.

Urgent need to find solutions for worsening waste crisis

Fashion’s waste is a significant challenge. The industry is estimated to generate 92 million tons of textile waste annually worldwide . Covid-19 is set to increase this; 60% of textile and clothing companies expect their sales to drop by half in the short term2 and with this deadstock and cancelled orders. The Redress Design Award 2020 finalists’ collections demonstrate numerous solutions to reduce waste throughout the entire fashion supply chain and also across industries. The appetite for change and collaboration has never been greater.

Become part of Culture.Fashion and work on a future proof fashion sector!

At the opening of State of Fashion 2018, Minister of Education, Culture and Science Ingrid Van Engelshoven announced that she wants to give an impulse to Dutch fashion by starting a (pilot) fashion program that connects initiatives and increases the cultural power of fashion in society. In February 2020 in Arnhem, the program was introduced with a broad working session. Since than, various fashion parties in the Netherlands have been working on an activity program, on a mapping of Dutch fashion and on a joint narrative.

Culture.Fashion is an open, value-driven, network in the field of fashion and textile that brings dedicated people together. Culture.Fashion will start new local initiatives, stimulate a culture of collaboration, present tools to highlight the Dutch fashion landscape and explore and shape the future of fashion of The Netherlands.

Become part of Culture.Fashion and work on a future proof fashion sector! Go the website of www.culture.fashion to stay updated and connected. More information will be revealed soon.

Culture.Fashion is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Initiators: Erasmus University Rotterdam, FASHIONCLASH, MAFB, M-ODE, State of Fashion and TextileLab Amsterdam | Waag, Lisa Wolters and a growing network of partners.

(NL) Creatief tijdens Corona: FASHIONCLASH in De Limburger

Dit artikel werd gepubliceerd in De Limburger, 25-05-2020.

‘Het enige mode-event in Nederland dat dit jaar misschien wél doorgaat’

Hoe komen mensen in de cultuurwereld deze crisis door? In de rubriek ‘Creatief tijdens Corona’ komen Limburgse muzikanten, auteurs, kunstenaars en theater-makers aan het woord. In deze aflevering Branko Popovic en Laurens Hamacher van het Maastrichtse modeplatform Fashionclash.

Foto: Peter Schols

DOOR RON LANGENVELD

Uiteraard hadden ze de voorbereidingen voor de twaalfde editie van hun Fashionclash festival in Maastricht liever onder normale omstandigheden getroffen. Zonder de restricties en onzekerheden die de coronascrisis met zich meebrengt. „Maar eigenlijk is dit ook best spannend”, vertelt Branko Popovic in het kantoor aan de Maastrichtse Batterijstraat. „Want je kunt deze situatie ook gebruiken om bijzondere dingen te doen.” Ze zullen ook wel moeten. Want een traditionele modeshow met een catwalk en een volle zaal publiek is komend najaar niet mogelijk. „Maar je kunt modellen bijvoorbeeld ook in een kamer neerzetten en het publiek erlangs leiden”, zegt Popovic. „Of we gaan dingen doen op bijzondere locaties, in huiskamers misschien”, suggereert mede-organisator Laurens Hamacher. „We zijn creatief, dus we gaan dit ook creatief oplossen.” En ze prijzen zich gelukkig dat hun festival pas in november op de kalender staat, als de coronaperikelen hopelijk alweer wat verder geluwd zijn. „We zijn straks misschien wel het enige mode-event in Nederland dat dit jaar wél doorgaat”, zegt Hamacher.

“Je kunt deze situatie ook gebruiken om spannende en bijzondere dingen te doen. ”

— Branko Popovic

Zuur

Maar dat de coronacrisis een diepe impact heeft op de mode- en kunstwereld, zien Popovic en Hamacher overal om zich heen. „Ontwerpers die in één keer al hun opdrachten zien wegvallen. Beginnende designers die plots met lege handen staan. Of de komende lichting afgestudeerden van de academies, die allemaal zonder afstudeershow hun opleiding moeten verlaten”, zegt Popovic. „Hoe zuur is dat!” Ook zelf hebben ze diverse projecten zien wegvallen. „We zouden onder andere voor de Museumnacht hier in Maastricht een event organiseren samen met studenten van de Toneelacademie”, vertelt Hamacher. „Dat is uitgesteld naar het najaar.” Maar of dat nog doorgaat en in welke vorm? Ze hebben nog geen idee. „We gaan hier zelf ook niet schadeloos uit komen”, voorspelt Popovic.

Podium

De Fashionclashers weigeren desondanks zich door het virus uit het veld te laten slaan. „Zeker nu niet”, zegt Popovic. Met hun initiatieven en events gelden zij als aanjagers van de modewereld en een podium voor jong talent. „En dat podium is juist nu harder nodig dan ooit.” Daarom proberen ze naast hun festival de modewereld juist nu van impulsen te voorzien. „Wat kunnen wij doen om de community van makers en ontwerpers te helpen?”, zegt Hamacher.

Een van de initiatieven die daaruit onlangs is ontsproten, is het project Digital Door Sale. Waarbij jonge Limburgse ontwerpers middels een filmpje op de website en sociale media van Fashionclash een creatie mogen tonen, toelichten en hopelijk verkopen. „Om jonge ontwerpers zichtbaar te maken in deze moeilijke tijd.” En om de modesector een beetje hoop te geven in bange dagen. „Want deze crisis gaat de komende jaren onherroepelijk gevolgen hebben.”

Alexandra Pisco in conversation with Jessica Michault

Alexandra Pisco (founder of PISCO&CO and Maisons de Mode) is currently one of the coaches of the Fashion House Business Development Program by FASHIONCLASH. She recently shared her vision for the future hold for independent fashion designers and brands during an Instagram Live conversation with fashion journalist Jessica Michault.

Watch the full video and hear her thoughts. What’s your opinion on this topic? Please share your vision in the comments!

www.jessicamichault.com

COVID-19: support for entrepreneurs, self-employed & freelancers in The Netherlands

COVID-19 is, first and foremost a global humanitarian challenge and a medical emergency. However, we are well aware of its impact on creative entrepreneurs and freelancers. The ecosystem and sector is hit really hard economically and probably many of you have seen their clients and projects decrease in the last few weeks.

The Dutch cabinet has announced a support package for SME entrepreneurs, self-employed people and freelancers as well as large companies. In short, the measures which are now in place are as follows:

• TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT FOR COMPENSATION FOR WAGE COSTS (MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EMPLOYMENT)
  An entrepreneur who expects a loss of turnover (at least 20%) can apply to the UWV for a salary contribution for a period of three months (maximum 90% of the wage bill, depending on the loss of turnover). UWV will provide an advance of 80% of the requested contribution. This allows companies to continue to pay their staff. The condition is that no staff may be made redundant for economic reasons during the subsidy period. This Temporary Emergency Measure Bridging for Work Retention (NOW) will be opened as soon as possible and will replace the current working time reduction scheme. No new applications can immediately be submitted for this to SZW. Applications that have already been made but not yet settled will be handled in the new scheme. Entrepreneurs can apply for the allowance for a decrease in turnover from 1 March.

• EXTRA SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT ENTREPRENEURS (MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EMPLOYMENT AND MUNICIPALITIES)
  The cabinet is introducing a temporary, relaxed arrangement to support independent entrepreneurs, including self-employed persons, so that they can continue their business. The scheme is implemented by the municipalities. Self-employed persons can receive additional income support for subsistence for a period of three months through an accelerated procedure. This supplements the income to the social minimum and does not have to be repaid. There is no asset or partner test in this temporary assistance scheme for self-employed persons. Support under this temporary scheme is also possible in the form of a working capital loan at a reduced interest rate.

• RELAXATION OF DEFERRAL OF PAYMENT OF TAX AND REDUCTION OF FINES (TAX AND CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION)
  Affected entrepreneurs can more easily apply for deferral of tax. The Tax Authorities will then immediately stop the collections. This applies to income, corporate, wage and turnover taxes (VAT). Any default penalties for late payment do not have to be paid. Moreover, it is not necessary to send evidence immediately. The entrepreneur gets longer to do this. The recovery interest that normally starts after the expiry of the payment term is temporarily reduced from 4% to almost 0%. This applies to all tax debts. The rate of the tax interest also temporarily goes to almost 0%. This reduction will apply to all taxes subject to tax interest. The cabinet will adjust the tax rate as soon as possible.

• BROADENING OF THE GUARANTEE FOR ENTREPRENEUR FINANCING (MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS)
  Businesses that experience problems in obtaining bank loans and bank guarantees can use the Guarantee Business Financing scheme (GO). The cabinet proposes to increase the GO's guarantee ceiling from 400 million to 1.5 billion euros. With the GO, EZK helps both SMEs and large companies with a 50% guarantee on bank loans and bank guarantees (minimum 1.5 million - maximum 50 million euros per company). The maximum per company is temporarily increased to 150 million euros. The Cabinet is committed to providing all warranty space that is required.

• INTEREST DISCOUNT SMALL ENTREPRENEURS ON MICROCREDITS QREDITS (MINISTRY OF EZK)
  Microcredit provider Qredits finances and coaches a large group of small and starting entrepreneurs, who often find it difficult to obtain financing through the bank. These include entrepreneurs in the catering, retail, personal care, construction and business services. Qredits opens a temporary crisis measure: for small entrepreneurs affected by the corona issue, a repayment of six months is offered and the interest during this period is automatically reduced to 2%. The Cabinet supports Qredits for this measure with a maximum of 6 million euros.

• COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR (MINISTRY OF EZK)
  The government's health measures have enormous consequences for income in a number of sectors in particular. Such as the (mandatory) closure of food and beverage outlets and cancellations in the travel industry. Moreover, this income is difficult to catch up when the coronavirus is over. The Cabinet is therefore introducing a compensation scheme that also applies to the Arts and Culture sector, and the government proposes to grant companies in these and other such sectors a fixed fee of € 4,000. The conditions for this compensation are not yet known. This is now being worked out and urgently submitted to the European Commission for the assessment of (permissible) state aid.
  
  WHERE CAN ENTREPRENEURS GO?
  Entrepreneurs report to their credit company regarding the loans provided, and for tax measures they can contact the Belastingdienst (Tax Authority) Belastingdienst.nl/coronavirus You can also call the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) Advice Team on +31 (0)800 2117 on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:00.
  
  Image: Emilie Thirion by Team Peter Stigter during FASHIONCLASH Festival 2016