Design/ Highlights from Milan part 2

From top to bottom: Royal School of Arts, The Hague (KABK); KABK; Dutch Invertuals; Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (HKU); 010-020; De Invasie; COS pop-up store; Street Art

While I love scouting for Dutch talents during fairs, graduate shows and exhibitions, sometimes it can be nice to take a little break and just wander around the city. Here are a few photos of my favourite shows in Milan.

Once again the COS pop-up store was so super minimalist, pure perfection! Some of my favourite items were seen at 010-020 – a collective from Rotterdam and Amsterdam – creating the most vibrant fabrics (Mae Engelgeer) and simplistic racks to hang them from (Jeroen van Leur).

Flat: by Borre

At the opening of their gallery exhibition in Amsterdam, I spoke with Borre Akkersdijk and Daan Spangenberg of by Borre about ideas, materials and hopes for the future.

Fashion, textiles and techniques take pride of place at Gallery 33 courtesy of by Borre for an entire month.

Suspended from the ceiling, pressed between sheets of  glass or hanging 15 metres high, there is no ‘normal’ way of showing the designs made by by Borre. Both Design Academy Eindhoven graduates, Borre Akkersdijk and Daan Spangenberg set up the brand a number of years ago and have quickly made a name for themselves in the Paris fashion scene. Creating innovative knits, thick textiles and heavy, almost sculptured jackets, the duo’s style is recognizable and very ‘now’.

Read the full article via this link

Personal note: I was invited to the newly opened Gallery 33 by a friend and was pleasantly surprised. Situated at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, admittedly an instant adder of city cool, the gallery itself is a great mix of disused factory and sleek contemporary styling with high ceilings and a mezzanine level. Borre and Daan seemed really enthusiastic about the expo and what was on show really impressed me, the thickness of material alone is something you just won't see on the high street or even high-end shops, it's really unique. I would definitely recommend you stop by the gallery if you're in Amsterdam and go take a look yourself. Almost all the products on show are for sale, but beware, because of the special techniques and materials, you will need a trust fund to buy anything that's not a scarf!

All images by Cassandra Pizzey @ Gallery 33