Hasta La Ideas

The Fashion Institute Arnhem is famous for its designers. Big stars like Viktor & Rolf and Spijkers & Spijkers all studied at the institute. This year they introduced us to some of their top graduates. In order of appearance: Maryam Kordbacheh, Rudolph Holmond, Felicia Mak and Lisa Weinberg.

Maryam Kordbacheh’s collection is called “the sexuality of flowers’ and is about the intimacy between the cloth and the female body. The organic shapes of nature come back into her designs. All pieces were moulded and handcrafted and she used techniques such as hand dying and hand pleating. With the use of all natural materials such as silk, cotton, silk jersey, silk tulle and silk cashmere, Kordbacheh created experimental pieces that women can wear, and at the same time, adore. Rudolph Holmond’s collection is called ‘Posturbia’ — derived from positive disturbia but also post-urban. It shows a real slim and smart silhouette combined with some more baggy items. The fabrics are a clash between traditional materials like flannel, wool, and cottons and more modern materials such as shiny plastic and transparent voiles. The collection titled ‘if you melt a suit, you get a dress’ from starting designer Felicia Mak is based on the idea of a striptease from a suit, slowly into a dress and inspired by Dita von Teese. The shapes are developed by taking a tailleur and producing it into softer and more feminine materials. The colours are based on the black and white contrast of a suit, the naked skin and sensual shades of orange. Lisa Weinberg’s collection is called ‘Dawn.’ Dawn emphasizes her special interest for developing her own textile and print designs. Mohair, latex, copper, silks and organza are all dyed by hand into colours of sunrise. Embroidery and hand painted prints, techniques which enhance the original fabrics, are incorporated in the collection. See the slideshow for collection pieces from these featured fashion week designers.