Delft Blue to Denim Blue : Contemporary Dutch Fashion

Contemporary fashion in the Netherlands shows a unique mix of playful individualism, conceptual strength, and organisational innovation. Delft Blue to Denim Blue maps the landscape of Dutch fashion in all its rich variety and complexity.Luxuriously illustrated in colour, the book uncovers the cultural roots of Dutch fashion in a globalized context. The authors debunk myths surrounding Dutch fashion, dig up new facts and stories, and explore the creative relation of fashion design to cultural heritage. Written by experts in the field, Delft Blue to Denim Blue gives a rich overview of designers, ranging from G-Star jeans, and affordable retailer C&A, to a savvy brand like Vanilia, and from the famous designer duo Viktor&Rolf to a futuristic designer like Iris van Herpen. The book assesses the diversity of Dutch fashion designers, firms and brands in their historical and cultural contexts. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: The Paradoxes of Dutch Fashion Profile: G-star Part I: Dutch Fashion Culture 2. Clogs on High Heels: Dutch Cultural Heritage and Fashion Profile: Max Heymans 3. Contours of the Dutch Fashion Industry Profile: Hollandia-Kattenburg 4. Don’t Dress to Impress: Fashion Discourse in Dutch Magazines Profile: Frans Molenaar 5. Vivid Colours: From the Local to the Global and Back Again: Oilily, Mac&Maggie and –CoraKemperman Profile: Jan Taminiau 6. Denim Goes Dutch: A Myth-in-the-Making Profile: Francisco van Benthum Part II: Dutch Firms and Designers 7. Van Gils: Between Designing a Lifestyle and Making Suits Profile: C&A 8. Mexx: A Dutch Brand with Global Reach Profile: Claudia Sträter 9. From Mac&Maggie to –CoraKemperman: Successful Co-Creation in Production and Consumption Profile: The People of the Labyrinths 10. Vanilia: High-Street the Dutch Way Profile: Marlies Dekkers 11. Spijkers en Spijkers: A Cut Above Profile: Alexander van Slobbe Part III: Novel Perspectives 12. Dutch Fashion Photography: Liquid Bodies and Fluid Faces Profile: Studio JUX 13. Fashion as a New Materialist Aesthetics: The Case of Viktor&Rolf Profile: Bas Kosters 14. Cybercouture: The Fashionable Technology of Pauline van Dongen, Iris van Herpen and Bart Hess Profile: Anouk Wipprecht Bibliography List of Illustrations Contributors Index Contemporary fashion in the Netherlands is successful globally and shows a rich, paradoxical diversity. 'Delft Blue to Denim Blue' maps the landscape of Dutch fashion in all its rich variety and complexity. Luxuriously illustrated in colour and black & white, The book uncovers the cultural heritage of Dutch fashion and explores the individual designers and brands, including romantic designer Jan Taminiau who creates spectacular gala gowns for Queen Maxima, Iris Van Herpen, Kichael Van Der Ham and conceptual designer duo Viktor & Rolf, as well as the many popular brands, such as G-Star jeans, Mexx, Supertrash, CoraKemperman, Vanilla, Sjaak Hullekes, and the affordable retailer, C & A. Fashion photographers like Inez Van Lamsweerde and Erwin Olaf are explored too. 'Delft Blue to Denim Blue' also looks into the future of Dutch fashion, discussing the vanguard of wearable technology, with cybercouture designers like Pauline vanDongen and Bart Hess.