Rethinking Fashion @VIA Design Show
© Giang Pham
What could have served better to finally launch The Fashion Lens than an article about a show under the motto of Rethink Fashion? The VIA Design Show had its initial display in Aarhus, this year´s European Capital of Culture, on Tuesday, January 24th, and will be shown at the Copenhagen Fashion Week on Thursday, February 2nd. As a graduate show, it gives newcomers to the fashion industry the opportunity to present their final collections before entering the business world.
The name reflects the aim: For Ingrid Søe, the director of education and research at VIA Design School, rethink can also be replaced with redo. She explains that “It is difficult to find something completely new in the world, so everything is about how to combine and how to redo things.“ According to her, this way of thinking is also fundamental in order to meet the demands of the future, naming sustainable fashion as a development that influences the fashion industry.
© Giang Pham
While the large audience excitedly moves into the hall and waits for the show to begin, we get to take a glance backstage. Surprisingly, the atmosphere there is relaxed. The hairdresser is finishing up the last model´s curls, another model is having her glittery make-up done. A few pre-show selfies are taken and snacks are brought in for refreshment. The outfits are sorted on clothing racks, one for each model, and we cannot wait to see the single pieces combined to an artistic ensemble.
Back outside the light is turned off at 6pm sharp, spotlight set on the presenters. After the introducing speeches, electronic music fills the room. The show begins.
The ideas related to Rethink Fashion couldn’t have been more diverse. The 18 designers combined cuts, materials and patterns in unique ways. While some outfits can be classified under the label of “understated elegance” showing light colours, clean cuts and/ or delicate cloth, others proved courage to experiment with the use of strong colours, fresh patterns and/ or crazy combinations. The audience was presented Scandinavian clean cuts with Palestinian stitcheries on the one hand, and genderless designs with flowery prints and pink quillings on the other. Provocatively transparent outfits were followed by designs inspired by a fairy tale. Simple everyday clothing opposed funky collections.
All designs were a proof of creativity and individuality, inspired by the graduates´ social and cultural backgrounds, life experiences and passions. One of them was created by Pavel Vlodarski, whose designs were influenced by his Polish background. His collection 21:37 is named after the time of Pope John Paul II´ death, and represents a story that challenges conservative politics in Poland. Read the article about him, the first piece of our #creativeminds –series, and get to know more about this unusual inspiration.
© Giang Pham
The VIA Design School has an interdisciplinary approach to teaching fashion design. Combined with lectures in business and material technology, the program prepares them for establishing their own brands and gain a foothold in the competitive fashion industry.
The VIA Design Show will also be presented at the Copenhagen Fashion Week on Thursday, February 2nd, 2017. For more information, check the VIA Design homepage.