Following a fashion week from far away has never been easier, especially with Twitter updates! Instant updates from multiple sources creates the best overview. Here are some of the people I follow on Twitter throughout the Amsterdam Fashion week:
First, for all official schedules, designer intros, photos and videos of course the official source @AIFW2010
But for the instant photo satisfaction I look for the bloggers on the go:
Amsterdam Fashion Week (AIFW) starts July 14 and it is one of the more exciting fashion events for me because I love the Dutch influence in fashion. AIFW happens twice a year and started in 2004 as an
initiative to put Amsterdam on the map as an
international destination for Fashion with a full
schedule of catwalk shows, trade fairs, presentations, lectures and
parties.
AIFW
takes place at the former Gas Factories in Amsterdam's ‘Westergas' area.
Young and established designers show their collections on the Amsterdam
catwalk. I'll be looking into the young designers rather than the established ones. For full schedule visit their website AmsterdamFashionWeek.com
Here are some of my favorites:
Bibi van der Velden catwalk with amazing audio visual effects on the runway
and incredible accessories
I completely missed the Sidewalk Catwalk event while I was in Europe but luckily I have plenty of photos and inside info from participants. The Sidewalk Catwalk public art event celebrates the home of American fashion and the
design talent who have made the Fashion District one of
New York City’s great neighborhoods. From June 24 to September 3, SIDEWALK CATWALK you can see on display 30 mannequin with the artistic
interpretations from
New York’s leading designers
and two student design teams from Parsons and FIT. The one of a kind mannequins can be found on Broadway from Times Square to
Herald Square (map). You can learn more about the event and visit their website at: Sidewalk-Catwalk.com
Betsey Johnson
Parson's winning mannequin created by Niyati Karwat and Emily Saunders with Timo Rissanen overseeing the project. There are seeds of moss planted within the "skirt" of the mannequin which will grow throughout the summer.
Carlos Falchi, his daughter {who is involved in the business} and Rick Darling
Catherine Malandrino's Flag under wraps
DVF
Fern Mallis in front of Naeem Khan's mannequin
Fern Mallis inspecting Isabel Toledo's mannequin
Jason Wu's mannequin
John Bartlett
Norma Kamali's mannequin covered in Scanlife logos and bar codes- scan
with the iPhone app to view Norma's shows
If you are interested in learning about accessory design or would like to start your own line I have two classes starting as soon as next week that might be helpful to you.
If you live in or close to NYC I am teaching "How to Style, Merchandise and Plan an Accessory Line" at FIT, starting Tuesday, June 8th. All info is on the FIT website: http://fitnyc.edu/3063.asp Scroll down to: SXF 218 {and here is the recap}
SXF 218 How to Style, Plan and Merchandise an Accessory Line
0 credits $225
Learn to create a cohesive and saleable accessory collection,
merchandised to a specific brand that targets the right customers.
Program includes information on all the elements of a cohesive line, the
right colors, trims, materials, and silhouettes. Price points for
materials and finished goods are discussed as well as price-range
positioning in the market. The pre-production process and production
requirement, including prototype fitting modifications, and vendor
communications are covered. Industry professionals and store owner
speakers give business tips and advice on presenting a bag, shoe and
small leather goods collection.
Instructor: Aneta Genova, accessories designer and creative director for
major brands, with industry experienced guest speakers
If you are not in NYC you can take my online class "Fundamentals of Accessory Design", starting June 14. This one will take you through the fundamentals of designing an accessory line from concept and inspiration, through sketching design ideas, developing technical flats and a tech pack.
It pains me to write this post! Supporting the garment center and all the people who work and create there is such an important cause and I was stunned to see the actual Design Trust presentation on June 2nd. The event was held in a tiny, dark, muggy corner at Port
Authority in what seemed to be a random space. One felt a big disconnect
between the glamorous fashion shows of Anna Sui, Yeohlee, and Alexander
Wang and the money spent on PR and venues for runway shows as opposed to
saving the jobs of the people who work in the garment district. How is this possible
with major sponsor and CFDA behind it and who will care if this is how the problem is presented? How many commuters bustling to get on their bus and get out of the city will actually stop to take a look?
I agree with Deborah Marton, executive director of Design Trust for Public Space that: "Ultimately, {this} project is about much more than fashion. It's about one
of the last neighborhoods in Manhattan that has not yet been remade by
recent waves of new development. It's about jobs and immigrant workers.
It's about the decisions City officials make to support certain kinds of
businesses and land-use development, whether it's baseball stadiums,
high-rise condominiums, or factories. Made in Midtown is about what kind
of City we want New York to be--we think it should continue to be a
place that promotes creative industries of all kinds, including fashion." As quoted from her June 2nd article at the Huffington Post.
In reality there are so few people who can produce only in NYC and if the opening night is any sign of who supports this then garment center is in big trouble. I personally doubt that a few rolling racks with safety-pinned patterns and tech-packs will attract the attention that this project needs. If anything they made me feel that there was little care in the general organization of this important event. While the main website MadeinMidtown.org is well built and already asking for your generous contribution, try to access the official "Made in Midtown" video on Vimeo! You'd be surprised by the sign that it says: "This is a private video! You do not have permission to watch this private video" AT least one can grab the embed code and place it within an online article!
Is the situation so desperate that it needs to look like it is! I doubt that that was the thought behind this event!
I am getting more and more emails every week from major companies asking me to refer students to them for free internships! I know more graduates that have been working for free for famous designer and large companies than ever before! The garment district DOES matter and I want to tell the world that so
many of my friends are loosing their jobs as designers, pattern-makers,
seamstresses, etc. but there has to be a better way to get the word
across!
PUBLIC LAUNCH +
POP-UP EXHIBIT Date: Thursday, June 3 Time: 8:00am - 8:30pm Location: Fashion Center/Times Square
Pop-Up Space in the Port Authority Bus Terminal (8th Avenue at 41st
Street)
One of the biggest supporters of this project is Anna Sui
Anna Sui photo by Jordan Alport
INSTALLATION Free
and open to the public all day, this installation will include
large-scale video projections, computer kiosks, a show of
locally-produced garments (from such top designers as Nanette Lepore,
Rag & Bone, Anna Sui and YEOHLEE), a newspaper highlighting stories
from the district, and an interactive street map that traces garment
production through the neighborhood.
BROWN BAG PRESENTATIONS 12:30pm and 1:30pm Design
Trust executive director Deborah Marton and program director Jerome Chou
present an overview of Made in Midtown's key findings and how this
project will help chart the course for the future of creative industry
in New York City.
MAKING MADE
IN MIDTOWN 6:30 - 8:30pm Ever wonder how a Design Trust
project unfolds? Made in Midtown project fellows join Design Trust staff to
explain the collaborative, cross-disciplinary work behind Made in
Midtown and answer your questions about our process.
Beautiful weather and a long weekend ahead! Hope you all get to enjoy the Holiday! Here are some photo from the LVMH/Parsons event on Governors Island which marked the successful completion of the mega project The Art of Craftsmanship Revisited. Twenty three teams of interdisciplinary students from five departments within the New School for Design came together with established artisans to create designs and videos of their collaborative efforts. To learn more and see the videos visit: ArtofCraftsmanship.com
It was a short ferry ride from Manhattan into Governors Island
Fashion design student Stacey Cunningham wore the perfect outfit to be blown in the wind!
I had never been to Governors Island and was quite curious to see what it looked like.
I have to admit the island felt like the perfect getaway to spend a week here. Such a short ride from Manhattan {less than 10 min ferry ride} and so beautiful!
Naturally there were quite a few fabulous outfits! A bit of sparkle added quite a lot of glamor for Fabiola Beracasa'selegant bright blue dress with matching headpiece.
And the design work was displayed within a few of the surrounding houses. The following outfits are the result of the student collaborations with the artisans.
Each established company or artisan also created a display to feature their own craft.
Miss Dior {above}
Fendi handmade bags and one of the men who has been making them for the last 15 years.
The workstation of calligrapher Brernard Maisner, who was part of the winning team.
I love the Hipstamatic photo app for the iPhone. You can get such a wonderful vintage feel and look with your own iPhone. Here is a photo of my dress on the boat to Governors Island en route to the Parsons-LVMH event The Art of Craftsmanship Revisited. You can learn more about this incredible partnership on the official website: ArtofCraftsmanship.com I'll be posting coverage of it later tomorrow, but for now here are some photos I took with the Hipstamatic app.
I premiered my most colorful dress in the hottest day of the
year!
A boat sailing back to NYC.
Governors Island is 800 yards just south of Manhattan, a short ferry ride. It used to serve as a was a
military base - home to the US Army and after 1966 it served as the operation base and residence for the Coast Guard. Now it is open to the public June 5 - Oct 10 Fri, Sat, Sun. Guests of the LVMH party frolicked happily on the spacious island, enjoying champagne, wine and artisanal foods.
Hyeyoung Kim and Akalaksna Baenchata were happy graduates even before they knew they were the winners of the LVMH contest.
This was actually the sunset on the way to Governors Island, but it really looks like the moon, doesn't it?
All photos by Aneta Genova, , {Hipstamatic app, John lens, Kodot Verichrome film}
Recent Parsons design graduate Alexa Winner has been styling photo-shoots and celebrities for the past year. As a culmination to her graduation she just had an amazing event at the Hugo Boss store, where she styled and merchandised the women's collection.
This unique concept store is created specifically for this NYC location in conjunction with star Italian architect Matteo Thun. The spacious store features gray stone floor and exposed brickwork, both of which have been preserved in their original state. Diamond shaped structures in wood extend throughout the full interior. The dressing rooms in the back are adorned with leather and velvet and create a VIP backroom atmosphere. The elaborate illumination system is designed in cooperation with the renowned light artist AJ Weissbard. Overall a spectacular and airy atmosphere!
Two women's looks, styled by Alexa Winner.
Above: Alexa Winner and me
For Amanda Lyons' outfit, Alexa used a men's tie as a belt and created a one of a kind signature look for her!
Here is what the front of Amanda's dress looks like.
These guys looked so adorable and completely unphased by their fame I couldn't resist posting two photos of them. In addition to everything else they do Liam is creating a line of men's clothes, based on Steve McQueens signature style and Aesha and Alexa are coming out with their own women's clothing line! I cannot wait to see it all!