March 02, 2021
What is FASHIONCLASH?
An interdisciplinary showcase and development platform for fashion & fashion culture and a worldwide network of emerging fashion makers based in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
The 12th edition of FASHIONCLASH Festival takes place during the last weekend of February. During these three-days, a new generation of designers and performing artists from all over the world get the opportunity to show their work. The program for this digital edition featured exhibition tours, interviews, fashion performances and cross-overs with theatre and dance, as well as three live streamed events: The Locals, The Clash House and The Fashion Makes Sense Award Show.
Before talking about the award and the winners, let us introduce you to FASHIONCLASH, an interdisciplinary showcase and development platform for fashion & fashion culture and a worldwide network of emerging fashion makers.
They initiate, produce and present existing and new work of a new generation of fashion makers who research, reflect, contextualize and celebrate contemporary fashion and fashion culture from the intrinsic question: How can fashion contribute to a better, healthier and more inclusive society?
About the Clash House:
On this edition a new show program component has been introduced, focusing on more performative experiences in which designers are challenged to actively experiment with forms of presentation and inclusive audience participation. Designers participating in this program entered into a dialogue with performing artists Mami Izumi and Giovanni Brand to create a unique presentation form for their new collections. In addition, there is a substantive consultation with the show production partner Sessibon.
Participating designers were Berend Brus, Marlou Breuls Creative Studio, NEO Design, MAARTEN VAN MULKEN, Rena Jansen, The Nightmare Disorder and a special presentation by XHOSA in collaboration with Black Harmony.
The Locals:
On Saturday, February 27th, several local designers presented their work in a collective show called “The Locals”. During the event, designers from Maastricht and the region presented their new collections. “The Locals” features emerging brands like TEUN, MICHI’M x MAXNIEREISEL, PAERS, STUDIO | HEEY and Turtlehorn.
About the Fashion Makes Sense Award Show:
Launched in 2017, the “Fashion Makes Sense Award (FMSA)” is an annual returning prize for young sustainable designers. The project aims to contribute to talent development and provides support for sustainable emerging designers on the one hand and raise awareness on sustainability related issues with a larger audience on the other. Fashion Makes Sense is based on the FASHIONCLASH content and mission to deliver an ethical discourse for fashion to provide awareness and to reflect on developments and societal challenges that affect the fashion context. The playful double meaning of ’Fashion Makes Sense’ intends to question designers, the industry and the public to think about the state of the (fashion)world. What is the importance and role of fashion in our society and how can fashion contribute to a better world and well-being?
Previous winners of FMSA:
2017: Birute Mazeikaite (jury prize), Strikks (public prize).
2018: Paolo Carzana (jury prize), Sandermann (public prize), Gal Yakobovitch (special mention).
2019: Garcia Bello (jury prize), Iris van Wees (public prize), Elke Lutgerink (special mention).
2020: Mathilde Rougier (jury prize), Marko Feher (public prize).