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ABOUT MINT
MINT has a dream. A vision for the future of fashion: great style, made with respect for people and our environment. We call it forward fashion. MINT creates a professional platform at the Modefabriek where forward fashion brands have the opportunity to profile themselves, their collections and core values amongst likeminded ones.
During Modefabriek AW 12/13 we will present 20 forward fashion brands right at the main entrance. We gather them from all over the world and they are all fresh and innovative. To emphasise the world of MINT, we will also host the latest innovations in the field of forward industrial design and lifestyle. And MINT offers more, such as a pop up store in the city centre of Amsterdam, exhibitions, parties and launches.
MINT is an initiative of Marieke Eyskoot and Willa Stoutenbeek.
We hope to inspire towards a fashion scene that is both happening and harmless. We hope you’ll be a part of MINT too. On this blog we will reveal some of our forward brands and other forward findings we do.
A book about MINT
Only 2 days till the opening of Modefabriek. 2 days full of fun, fashion, trends and lifestyle. We from MINT love to see all the new collections, but we love the stories behind our clothes even more. Marieke Eyskoot, co-founder of Modefabriek’s MINT wrote a book about them: ‘Talking Dress – Vertelt je alles over eerlijke kleding (en lifestyle)’ – in English: ‘Talking Dress – Tells you all about ethical fashion (and lifestyle)’. The first Dutch guide to fair fashion! Read more »
Green hotspots at Amsterdam Fashion Week
On Friday July 13th, Saturday July 14th and Sunday July 15th 2012 you can go and see The Green Collective Exposition (http://www.thegreenfashioncompetition.com/expo-tgfc) at the stunning Umsjatka Studio’s in Amsterdam. It’s a showcase of fashion, product design and architectural concepts, all exploring a future with increased biodiversity. The designs are the contributions of the most talented participants of The Green Fashion Competition, The Green Design Competition and The Green Architecture Competition. Read more »
Creative Amsterdam
We all love fashion and other creative disciplines like art, film and design. Besides that we find it inspiring, the creative industry is an indispensable source of innovation. Other sectors often use creative input in order to innovate. The creative industries are however extremely diverse and often perform at a low organisational level. Therefore the platform Creative Cities Amsterdam Area (CCAA) was founded in 2007.
CCAA promotes and supports entrepreneurship in the creative industry. Thanks to their efforts there is now an online platform for creative minds from Amsterdam and surrounding municipalities. In their hall of fame you will find people like fashion illustrator Piet Paris, shoe designer Hester Vlamings, photographer Reinier van der Aart (also the official Modefabriek photographer) and Willa Stoutenbeek & Marieke Eyskoot of MINT. CCAA functions as a help desk, where relevant information is available for entrepreneurs about subjects like finance, accommodation and training courses.
Besides this ‘one stop shop’ for information, CCAA also achieved some pioneering collaborations. For instance: they connected Damian Hirst to the Rijksmuseum. The result was that Hirst’s diamond skull was displayed in a museum for the first time ever. An international premier event for the Netherlands. The number of visitors to the Rijksmuseum on Museum Night broke all records.
At the 14th of june an international event launched the next step: the European Creative Industries Alliance. Within this platform 6 European cities work towards a framework where creativity is the innovator of the European economy. MINT’s Marieke spoke about cross-sectoral cooperation between fashion and sustainability. CCAA will continue at least until the end of 2012. Their good work is -amongst others- made possible by the Amsterdam Innovation Motor. AIM is also sponsor of MINT.
OPTIONS! – contemporary department store
You can imagine the disappointment of tourists when they leave Amsterdam Central, ready to discover the city. Until last December, they would see nothing but trashy souvenir shops and tasteless restaurants. Not any more: we welcome OPTIONS! with open arms. A design department store packed with stylish stationary, sturdy children’s wear and beautiful interior design, situated at the Damrak. Read more »
Green Film Maker of the Year 2012
Have you visited the remarkable EYE building yet? In the spring of 2012 EYE opened its doors to foster a viable film industry in the Netherlands and to promote Dutch film at home and abroad. On June 1st 2012 they hosted the Evening of the Green Film. Many directors, producers, actors and actresses made their debut to witness the first finale of the Green Filmmaking Competition. Six finalists were part of the challenging battle to make a good movie, produced in the most sustainable way possible. Read more »
Forward fashion for women ánd men
Some men complain that fashion is not as much fun for them as for women. Well, guess they did not visit MINT then, as we will have some really cool forward fashion for women ánd men.
First of all there is Monkee Genes. This jeans label was born in 2006 out of the frustration of the denim market. Disillusioned with disposable high street fashion, the Monkee Genes team decided to raise public consciousness. They achieve this by using organic fabrics made by people who care – because they are being cared for! This results in innovative fits and styles in top of the range fabrics and classic denim with a retro twist.
People Tree is a pioneer in forward fashion. Founded 20 years ago, People Tree uses fashion as a tool to empower the world’s most marginalised people. For every beautiful garment they make, there’s an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world. Their in-house design team works innovatively to marry seasonal trends with traditional hand-skills and natural materials. In 2009 world attention was drawn to People Tree when actress Emma Watson collaborated with the brand on her first ever collection.
The Danish brand A QUESTION OF fosters diversity and creativity. According to them digitalization is the true revolution, resulting in transparency and sincerity in the means. The collection of A QUESTION OF is developed in collaboration with talented designers, illustrators and artists. With their sustainable fashion they want to create a better tomorrow and ensure continuous creative development through today’s talents.
Forward shoes and underwear at MINT
In our last blog we told you about the Green Fashion Competition. We are really proud that 6 (!) of the MINT-exhibitors made it to the final rounds of the Green Fashion Competition.
One of them is OAT shoes, they were the first runner-up of the first edition. When it comes to sneakers, you usually have to choose: toxic or clean, naughty or nice. OAT shoes made it possible to choose green ánd style. They developed ‘shoes that bloom’. Literally that is: you can bury your nifty sneakers after they’re worn down. Water them regularly and watch flowers bloom from your old kicks!
Besides the blooming sneakers from OAT, we will host another forward shoe brand at MINT: olsenHaus – Pure Vegan. The brand is 100% cruelty–free, using only non-animal materials that are environmentally friendly. The olsenHaus style focuses on clean lines, color and unexpected material mixes. The sandals, wedges, pumps and boots are made of alternative materials that are clever and sophisticated, like cork, linen and ultra suede.
Just like good shoes, underwear is an essential part of your outfit. In Bloom London designs high quality organic cotton lingerie. All women’s underwear is made in France with love. Their core is to care & inspire. They design and produce their collection with care for the earth. And In Bloom London believes that wearing beautiful lingerie pieces sublimated by a careful sourcing process will inspire women to fulfill their own dreams.
The Danish brand Underprotection gives men and women the possibility to combine ethics and aesthetics when buying underwear. It’s what you wear closest to your body and therefore they only use non-toxic sustainable materials such as bamboo, soy and organic cotton. A sustainable thought is good, but a sustainable way of living is gold. Therefore Underprotection strives to implement sustainability in every aspect of their work.
We are looking forward to meeting you on the 22nd and 23rd of January at MINT!
Green Fashion Competition finalists at MINT
Last time we shared some minty Dutch fashion brands with you. It’s not only us who think they design forward fashion: Elsien Gringhuis won the first edition of the Green Fashion Competition. This is a competition for entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, for individuals and teams with a vision of what the sustainable future of fashion should look like. studio JUX is one of the nominees for the finals in January 2012. We are really proud that in total 4 finalists will showcase their collection at MINT. Besides studio JUX, they are STAT Division, L’Herbe Rouge and O My Bag.
STAT Divisions creates ethical fashion, combining chic minimalist cuts with luxury sustainable fabrics. The designs are characterized by feminine, nautical and sporty elements. The result is a collection of unique, yet timeless separates and accessories: a wardrobe essential for any independent fashion fanatic with a conscience.
French brand L’Herbe Rouge was nominated because of their clear understanding of the impacts of materials and processes on biodiversity. Their designs are both refreshing and poetic. The innovative materials used have an organic farming (no pesticides or herbicides) or recycling origin. They translate their sustainable vision into forward fashion decisions, for example a dye from organic grapes.
Last finalist that will be present at MINT is O My Bag. The bags are produced in India and made from eco-leather from local Indian cows. The Green Fashion Competition jury says: “This labels presents accessories that are classical with a slightly fashionable twist. The used materials are very well sourced, and give the designs the must-have factor.” Wow, quite a compliment if you are only on the market since 2010!
Dutch forward fashion brands at MINT
On January 22-23 2012 MINT accelerates at Modefabriek AW 12/13. We will present the best of forward fashion: brands selected on indicators such as forward fashion style, quality and ethical values/performance. This all sounds really international and exclusive, but did you know that MINT also showcases the finest forward brands from our home country as well?
Dutch designer Elsien Gringhuis for example. She aims to get the maximum out of minimalism. Working with as few pattern pieces as possible, she saves work in cutting, pasting and stitching. In this way, she achieves a extraordinary state of sustainability. That Elsien Gringhuis is forward is illustrated by the fact that she won the first edition of the Green Fashion Competition. And psst…good news for all the fans: Elsien Gringhuis is currently working on a second, more affordable line called BASIC ONES.
JUX means fun in German and that might mislead you. studio JUX is based in the Netherlands ánd in Nepal. Designer Jitske lives in Kathmandu to manage her ‘Nepali Rockstars’, as they name their workers. According to studio JUX, fashion should be fun. Not just for the consumer and the designer, but also for the tailors and the environment. See, that’s what we call forward fashion.
Classy Lavinia and Edgy Abigail are the twin sisters behind Twin Couture. The brand is all about eco friendly and sustainable fabrics. They have had a pair of jeans for over seven years and wore it at least twice a week. When it ripped it was like saying goodbye to an old friend, because they had so much fun together. That’s why they choose denim as main ingredient. Twin Couture’s motto is: The When Is Now, The Way Is No Cruelty.
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