blog team
ABOUT CAROLINE KROUWELS
Fashion and concept designer / art director Modefabriek bv.
My design studio Krouwels Fashion Concepts designs concepts and fashion collections and is specialised in forecasting and creative strategy.
As an art director and a member of the board of Modefabriek, I am responsible for the creative and conceptual part of the fair.
Art, fashion and design are important in my life and the mix of these disciplines provides me with creativity, inspiration and innovation.
COLOUR ONE for MINI
Surrounded by an abundance of design at Milan’s design week and Salone Internazionale del Mobile (the global benchmark for home furnishing), I found some products and presentations that, without doubt, stood out to me. One of them was the COLOUR ONE installation for MINI by the internationally renowned Dutch design duo Scholten & Baijings. This interpretation of the MINI is simply breath-taking. Not only by means of its presentation, but also because of the refined display of the design process. This is the car that I’m dreaming to buy. In fact, in my beloved dreams, this is the car that I actually already drive.
But what I saw here, was not yet an actual car. It was Scholten en Baijings’s stylistic interpretation who, in close collaboration with the MINI design team, gave rise to their fresh perspective on car design. Layer-by-layer, the designer duo questioned virtually every aspect of the design possibilities along the way, and complemented the stripped parts with colour and texture. This form of creative thinking I find most inspirational.
The perforated body work, a neon yellow steering-wheel, light blue wheels with light coloured tires and car glass that shows a projection of the landscape at speed.., it is simply beautiful!
EYE
Amsterdam can now boast another wonderful attraction: the film museum, designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects in Vienna, has opened its doors in Amsterdam Noord. The building resembles a shining white oyster, standing proudly on the north bank of the River IJ.
Last week I had the chance to wander through the museum, an experience that I enjoyed immensely. Never before have I had such a strong sense of the beauty of a building and its surroundings.
Each of the spaces within the museum offers a different dimension, volume and experience. The “found footage, cinema exposed” exhibition, in which various artists have used archive material to give new meaning to old images, is stunning and inspiring.
This museum is the perfect place to experience the power of images in all their glory. The dark exhibition space, divided into different segments, is filled with carefully positioned screens. The arena – the space where everything comes together, on a series of steps leading to the riverbank – will serve as the restaurant.
Milene Hoving, co-owner of two other successful restaurants (Restaurant Amsterdam and Dauphine) will be running the show, so we can expect this to become a hot new destination for diners in Amsterdam Noord.
At the museum, you can have lots of fun making your own flip book. Simply do a twirl with your sweetheart, then you can buy a beautiful little book that records the moment in the museum shop.
Even the short crossing on the ferry to the north bank of the river is an experience in itself, allowing your anticipation to build ahead of your visit. Thanks to this splendid museum, Amsterdam has put itself back on the cultural map.
Barbie in Prague
18 December 2011 saw the death of Václav Havel, the Czech Republic’s most important politician since the fall of communism in 1989. On that very day I arrived in Prague, a city I had never visited before, and witnessed the beauty of a city in mourning. Havel’s name echoed through the streets. Everywhere I went, I saw his picture and heard his name in a language that I didn’t understand. It felt like history was happening all around me.
The next day was sunny and, while exploring this unfamiliar city, I accidentally stumbled upon a Barbie exhibition at the Prague toy museum. This fantastic exhibition illustrated the history of fashion. While I wandered through the hushed museum I gazed in admiration at the fashion of decades gone by. The trends were clear to see, albeit in miniature, in the outfits worn by this world-famous doll. The new look by Dior, classics by Balanciaga and Chanel, famous 1980s models, typical 1970s prints and 1960s dresses – all of them demonstrate how fashion can encapsulate an era perfectly.
Li Edelkoort on summer 2013
Lidewij shared her vision on summer 2013 last week and, if she has her way, rays of light will penetrate the darkness. We live in anxious, uncertain and worrisome financial times – and this has been going on for quite some time now. Anxiety and uncertainty have reigned since the beginning of this century, with the events of 9/11 marking a major turning point.
The entire world is suffering in so many ways: financially, currency-wise, healthwise, environmentally, not to mention the turmoil in the Middle East and the shifting of powers and authority around the globe. We need to find a way to make peace with our current reality, given that a fast and sweeping positive change may not come any time soon. We try to find happiness in the small things in life, in spending time and sharing with each other, in the small moments of joy, in the bliss of daily spirituality and the longing for a lightness of being.
Summer 2013 will be super light, literally, thanks to a combination of loads of whites with colour, the use of beautiful light materials, and by combining white and colourful patterns. Light yet voluminous knitting yarns will dominant knitwear, and there will be plenty of white bleached wovens and linen or, alternatively, clean white materials like ottoman, crispy cotton and luxury thin jersey.
Romantic, large, loose white collars are the new accessory and white will be found in clean-cut, simple, Celine-like designs. Other prominent elements will be white shirts in an incredibly wide amount of variation, including dresses, shirts and girly blouses.
Summer will be refreshing, optimistic and super light!
LONDON & CREATIVITY IN SELFRIDGES
The inspiration we are seeking can’t just be found in museums – I also found great sources of amazement and inspiration at Selfridges & Co. For instance, take the small pop stores, such as Lomokino, run by a trendy crowd who are bringing about the return of the analogue camera. It was striking to see those gaudily coloured cameras all being bought by very young, über-trendy individuals. Obviously they felt a longing for nostalgia…(And when I got home, I read that a Lomography Gallery Store had opened up in Amsterdam this week too.)
I was also inspired by the Wonder Room at Selfridges, a concept store on the ground floor. The Wonder Room project is a chance to reintroduce those elements of surprise and wonder to Selfridges and create a department store for the 21st century. Inspired by the concept of Wunderkammer and Curiosity Cabinets, the Wonder Room is a luxury gifts emporium with the energy of a souk.
Right now, the Wonder Room is decorated completely in white, in line with the Selfridges theme of ‘white Christmas’. There are white Martin Margiela candles, lamps and feather pens, white jackets and accessories. Luxurious jewellery. Soft white cushions in luxurious fabrics. There are also display cabinets containing art and sketches.
The white theme is also reflected on the website and in the shop windows. Consistently applied. Exceptionally creative. Stunningly beautiful.
London & Art
Visiting London is always an inspiring experience. Since Amsterdam’s museums have been closed for several years, there haven’t been any interesting exhibitions in the city for a long time, so the desire to visit another city where you can see art is enormous.
Just walking through London you can feel the difference. Art and culture are under pressure everywhere in Europe, but this city is still bubbling with creativity. And that’s very important as we attempt to deal with the economic crisis and all the negativity that it has caused.
A funny thing happened when I was at the ticket desk at the TATE Modern. I was asked if I objected to the fact that, by purchasing a ticket for the Gerhard Richter exhibition, I would be making a financial contribution to the museum. That’s a typically positive, polite British way to make clear that it’s vitally important to make a personal contribution at a time when culture is in crisis.
The Gerhard Richter exhibition, PANORAMA (a major retrospective exhibition that groups together significant moments of his remarkable career) further reinforced that feeling. A stunningly beautiful exhibition in which you see and feel the progression of time and the painter’s perspectives over five decades.
Winterforecast 12-13
This season is a long road decorated with the view on various landscapes. From clean and sharp silhouettes, almost without detail, to overwhelming decorative ornaments, in an outburst of colours.
Colour ranges in full contrast. Graphic silhouettes made from rich wool fabrics in beautiful clean shapes and volumes. Scandinavian influences next to 3D cubes and colour blocking. Soft luxurious fabrics and a delicate touch in contrast with sharp, strong shapes, with some powerfull detailing.
Nature is still a beautiful inspiration for prints, structures in knitwear, woven effects and feather look furs. Clouds of luxurious fur are deliberately mixed with contrast textures to maximime the 3D effect.
As an opponent there is decorative design on the highest level. Luxurious, flamboyant and rich. Eveningwear becomes daywear as designers seem to have an interest in the glittery gems of the 20’s.
This love for the past seems to be a big trend for this winter. We look back as we drive trough this beautiful landscape and memories of past decades reappear. The 40’s, 50’s and 70’s give, in all kind of aspects, new inspiration. With this heritage design makes a modern combination in style, detailing and tailoring.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
I’ll be revealing the various trends for the Winter 2012-2013 season in the weeks to come. We’ll be travelling through the landscape of our history and experiencing different aspects of the world, in all its cultural diversity, and the natural beauty of our earth as tremendous sources of inspiration. As a result of the impending crisis, falling euro and national debt – in other words, major financial uncertainty – the coming seasons will feature a retrospective of precious periods of the past century on the one hand and, on the other, extremely creative, innovative and sustainable trends that provide a response to uncertainty and change.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
This is a theme in which we wrap ourselves up in skins, feathers, fur, ultra-shaggy knits and ingenious knit constructions. The overall goal is to create volume, warmth and cosiness. We use beautiful fake furs, almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing, in natural shades or, alternatively, in deep reds, briques, curry yellows, deep blues, olive and soft pastels. There are also new developments involving the use of real fur, primarily derived from goats and sheep. This is what I like to call “edible fur” and, instead of spinning and knitting these yarns or using them in extravagant weaves, we use the entire sheep and goat skin in its natural colour, coloured or with two-tone effects. All that really matters is lots of volume and furriness.
THE SPEED OF TRENDS
I will soon begin a series of blogs analysing winter 2012-2013 trends. To me, the coming season’s trends are ingredients that you can use to create your own dish. Some trends carry on for a long time, while others are short and sweet.
This is partly because major fashion chains such as ZARA quickly and effectively analyse trends then apply them immediately, so that consumers can buy catwalk clothing on the high street at affordable prices right away. On the one hand, this poses a threat to the fashion business. However, on the other hand it’s an inevitable part of our rapidly changing society, in which trends come tumbling out one after another and are sometimes picked up so quickly that people soon tire of them.
As a fashion designer or owner of a fashion business, this makes it all the more important for you to develop your brand’s DNA, a soul of your own, so that you can reflect trends without them dictating your image. Your creativity is your mark of quality – it’s how the customer recognises who you are and what you stand for. On the other hand, it remains extremely important to monitor trends and pick the right ones, because trends generate money and success. People follow trends, feel them and respond to them. So the success of your image, brand or store depends on striking the right balance between clearly determining your identity and choosing the right trends.
Supermarket Sarah
Supermarket Sarah – today’s most exciting online store – was started by Sarah herself in her living room, when she began gathering together and photographing her own collection of furniture, toys, accessories and clothing. To become the owner of one of these fine items (many of them vintage) you simply click on the product you want.
Sarah has put together a number of different “walls” that she uses to combine a variety of completely diverse collections of hip and trendy items. She is the curator, and her wonderful taste in appealing, trendy products is what makes this personal mix of items so unique and surprising. Now Sarah is doing the same at the English department store Selfridges and is conquering the world with her creative products. What makes this so exceptional and so new?
Here we see an interesting development: the online shop is presented in real life too. The virtual and the real worlds run in parallel, flowing into one another. That’s where the future of the online store lies: combining tactile elements with the speed and efficiency of an online operation. What’s more, the highly personal and creative nature of Sarah’s store surprises and stimulates viewers and customers.
I always find visits to Sarah’s website to be inspirational and I have every confidence that creativity is ultimately what drives the economy.
