Ronald van der Kemp opens Amsterdam Fashion Week

Ronald van der Kemp, a pioneer in the sustainability movement within fashion and the rebel of Haute Couture, opened Amsterdam Fashion Week at the MoCo museum in the center of Amsterdam.

As you know I love fashion and I love art, so for me a reason to travel to Amsterdam. My expectations were high. Presenting a new collection in a museum is one of my favourite settings of fashion. Fashion truly meets Art.

It was also my first time to visit this museum and I loved it. The Moco Museum is a boutique museum with inspiring modern and contemporary art. With quotes and artwork from Banksy, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Basquiat, Haring, Koons, Kusama, Hirst and Dal.
Until September 30th 2019, Moco Museum is also hosting New York-based artist Daniel Arsham’s solo show ‘Connecting Time’. I couldn't resist to take a 'selfie' in Arsham's
Amethyst Ball Cavern.

During opening night of the fashion week in the museum models walked around and were dressed with previous collections of Ronald van der Kemp longing for us to see his new collection. Also he made some art installations with a great backdrop of works from Banksy and Warhol

Ronald van der Kemp presented his new collection in the lovely garden of the museum. As I was expecting a fashion show I was a bit disappointed as the models moved through the crowd surrounded by photographers. For me it was difficult to see his new collection.
The glimpse I got you can see in my photo review.

Van der Kemp's collection looks like a large patchwork of different materials, textures, fabrics and shapes and is a clear statement that all materials and trends can be recycled, keeping that iconic and innovative RVDK signature.
For more information on the museum visit monomuseum.com and for more photos visit amsterdamfashionweek.nl

I totally agree with the fashion designer's statement: "You can change the fashion world by one dress at a time!"

About Ronald van der Kemp/RVDK (as written on the designer's website)

RVDK Ronald van der Kemp is the world’s first sustainable couture label.
Founded In August 2014, RVDK shuns the fashion system’s wasteful ways, proposing wardrobes consisting of limited-edition statement pieces, that are seasonless and timeless clothes as an expression of a women’s personality underlining her strength and character. ​

Each style is ethically made with high-end existing materials and leftovers, and crafted by hand by small ateliers and artisans in his native Holland.

Ronald van der Kemp worked for over 25 years as designer and creative director for high-end international luxury brands such as Bill Blass, Celine/Michael Kors, Guy Laroche and Barneys before launching a label under his own name.

RVDK is on a mission to show the world that ethical fashion can be glamorous and exciting, injecting high fashion with a feeling of nostalgia and a longing for the heydays of haute couture.

RVDK believes that a form of art can change behaviour which leads to a bigger change in the industry. The world is full of beautiful things we can't see anymore. Because we are to busy to considerate them or too rookie to appreciate them. We are fashion alchemists: we capture unused beautiful fragments and turn them into unique work of art. For the sake of beauty. For the sake of our planet.

Vegan Skincare by Garnier - Beat the Microbead

I hear a lot about microplastics, like the ones in our skincare products. I am wondering why initially companies used these products. But as for many items people didn't think about the environment. Now the world is changing, we are more aware of what is happening to our world. So we are trying to take care of it.
Like Garnier from L'Oreal does by launching a new product line called Garnier BIO.

For 115 years, Garnier has been pioneer in the field of plant-based products. This year Garnier goes one step further in the field of course with the brand new skincare line: Garnier Bio. This line is certified organic and vegan. In addition, the packaging is made from recycled material and is again fully recyclable.
The Garnier BIO line takes power from plants for taking care of every type of skin. For every skin type another, and uses these forces efficiently for the care and cleansing of the skin.

BEAT THE MICROBEAD PLASTICS

Tiny particles of plastic have been added to thousands of personal care cosmetic products sold around the world. These microbeadsplastics, hardly visible to the naked eye, flow straight from the bathroom drain into the sewer system. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter them out microbeads and that is the main reason why they contribute to the Plastic Soup swirling around the world’s oceans. Sea animals absorb or eat microplasticsbeads. These microbeads are passed along the marine food chain. Since humans are ultimately at the top of this food chain, it is likely that we are also ingest them, absorbing microbeads from the food we eat. Microplasticsbeads are not biodegradable and once they enter the marine environment, they are impossible to remove.

Striking images of the plastic soup, climate change, and overconsumption Although the cosmetics industry has become more aware of microplastic pollution, many major brands still add micro- and nanoplastics or other chemical ingredients (to thicken, stabilize, and otherwise manipulate the product). For now, it’s mostly up to the consumer to do their research and buy responsibly, for example by using the Beat the Microbead App. In the words of Karen van Ede, “it may not feel like much, but doing nothing is worse”.
Plastic ingredients are included in most mainstream personal care products — anything from waterproof mascara, lipstick, and sunscreen to shower gel is likely to contain at least one form of plastic. This fact is largely unrecognized by well-intentioned consumers, who avoid products containing plastic microbeads only to purchase products containing polymethyl methacrylate or polypropylene components. This is worrisome because not only is there a large knowledge gap as to how plastics behave once they reach inside our bodies (as a result of either absorption or accidental ingestion), but at the end of the day, plastic ingredients from these products are washed off and go down the drain, into the oceans. Source: beatthemicrobead.org

Weleda, founded by a Dutch gynecologist and an Austrian gynecologist in the 1920s, is the first example of a “Zero” brand — it is also the largest that currently sports the badge. Its range of products covers everything from shampoos to body lotions to baby care products — and not one of them contains microplastic beads or any other plastic-based ingredient. Weleda serves as an example to other large multinational companies such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and L’Oreal, all of which have not discovered the benefits of eliminating plastics in personal care products.

As a consumer, one of the surest ways to guarantee that the products you purchase are not processed with any microplastics is to support brands which have the “Look for the Zero” mark. Until plastic-free care products are the norm industry-wide, looking for the “Zero” is your best bet!

5 Top Exhibitions to visit in March 2019

A new month so let me share you my sources of inspiration for March 2019. 5 Top exhibition to visit in the first month of spring. As David Hockney said: "Everybody loves spring!"

1. Hockney - Van Gogh: The Joy of Nature @ Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

Two Painters, One Love: Nature. David Hockney (1937) may live more than a century later than Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), however their vision of landscape is often similar. But what exactly does this nature mean to them? And how did Van Gogh’s landscapes inspire Hockney?

David Hockney

Vincent van Gogh

From today until the 26th of May, the colossal works of David Hockney will be on display in the Netherlands, at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. For the first time, this spectacular exhibition offers an extensive and colourful exploration of the common ground between the work of Vincent van Gogh and David Hockney. 

The world-famous Yorkshire landscapes by David Hockney (1937) are a vivid feast for the eyes. This is the first time that these works will be on display in the Netherlands.
The blockbuster exhibition Hockney – Van Gogh: The Joy of Nature demonstrates the unmistakable influence that Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) had on the displayed works. One of the highlights is the colossal The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven), consisting of 32 parts and measuring 9.75 metres wide by 3.66 metres high.

Sketchbooks, videos, photographic drawings and 20 large iPad drawings are also on display. Especially for this exhibition, photographer Rineke Dijkstra created a portrait of the artist, who is now 81 years old.

Axel Rüger (Director of the Van Gogh Museum): ‘Hockney is one of the most inspirational artists of our time. This is the first ever exhibition to explore how Van Gogh influenced his work. It is an absolute honour to organise an exhibition such as this’.

Back to Yorkshire In the 1990s, Hockney started to return from Los Angeles to his native region: the Yorkshire Wolds in Great Britain, where he painted the characteristic countryside. These paintings, the Yorkshire landscapes, reveal thorough observations of the changing four seasons, and how light, space and nature are constantly in flux. These imposing landscapes offer a vivid insight into Hockney’s love of nature. The landscape paintings show clear links with Van Gogh’s landscapes, such as The Harvest (1888), Field with Irises near Arles (1888) and The Garden of Saint Paul’s Hospital (‘Leaf-Fall’) (1889).

The stylised vertical lines of the tree trunks in the latter work by Van Gogh are analogous to the repetitive lines in Hockney’s renowned The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven).

Everyone loves spring. Everything emerges and straightens up. It’s like nature’s erection. 

David Hockney 

Hockney on Van Gogh: ‘His paintings are full of movement. What people love about Van Gogh’s paintings is that all the brush marks are visible and you can see how they are painted. When you’re drawing one blade of grass you’re looking and then you see more. And then you see the other blades of grass and you’re always seeing more. Well, that’s exciting to me and it was exciting to Van Gogh. I mean, he saw very clearly’. ‘The world is colourful. It is beautiful, I think. Nature is great. Van Gogh worshipped nature. He might have been miserable, but that doesn’t show in his work. There are always things that will try to pull you down. But we should be joyful in looking at the world’.

The Joy of Nature demonstrates the influence of Van Gogh on Hockney’s work, exploring both artists’ fascination with nature, their use of bright, contrasting colours and their experimentation with perspective.
The exhibition features some 60 works, including two series of watercolours and charcoal drawings (that consist of 36 and 25 smaller works respectively).
Hockney – Van Gogh: The Joy of Nature also features masterful videos of the four seasons and one of Hockney’s recent – technically innovative – photographic drawings, alongside watercolours, black-and-white drawings and prints.

2. The Girl, The Dress and The Pearl @ Museum aan het Vrijthof Amsterdam

Ronald Kolk - Margareth Stalman

From March 9th until June 16th, Museum aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht will be fully devoted to Haute Couture by Ronald Kolk and Haute Joaillerie by Margareth Stalman.
Couturier/designer Ronald Kolk shows a colorful selection of over fifty dresses from his extensive oeuvre. Goldsmith, designer and enameller Margareth Stalman presents an impressive collection of jewels. The exhibition ‘The Girl, The Dress and the Pearl’ takes place during and around the international art fair TEFAF Maastricht.

The ten characteristic cabinets and period rooms of the monumental museum form an ideal setting for the exhibition. Each room has its own theme. There is a red room, a treasure room, a Japanese room, a hanging garden of glass objects and a cocktail room. In one special room, two workshops are realized where visitors can see and feel the creative process. Video clips of fashion shows are also shown.

Ronald Kolk (Den Haag, 1950) started his career in New York dressing Grace Jones and Bette Midler. Back in the Netherlands he learned about the fashion industry working with fashion designers Max Heymans and Frank Govers. In 1998 he started his own couture house. His designs contribute to the self-confidence of women and bring out the girl in the woman. "Fashion should delight". The couturier’s style is flamboyant and theatrical, with a great fondness for special fabrics and materials.

Margareth Stalman (Heerlen, 1959) has been designing exclusive jewelry since 1983. The golden creations are difficult to define. On the one hand they look exuberant and asymmetrical. On the other hand, they are very refined with an elegant use of color. Because of the innovative use of pearls and the method of enamel application, her work has received international acclaim, including an Award of Excellence from the Japan Enamelling Artist Association.

Ronald Kolk and Margareth Stalman share a passion for traditional craftsmanship and make their creations themselves. Particularly due to the mutual respect for each other's craftsmanship, they have often collaborated over the past years at the annual fashion shows that Kolk organized until 2018. With this exhibition, and with presentations, lectures and masterclasses, they want to transfer that love for craftsmanship to young new designers.

3. Glorious Delft Blue @ Royal Delft

Until the 30th of June Royal Delft has contemporary showpieces on display. In order to present the relationship between the Golden Age and contemporary showpieces and trends they have selected five themes. In the themes, trade & new flavours, interior, tulipmania, portraits and fashion, Royal Delft has collaborated with contemporary designers like Marie Cécile Thijs, Ruben van Megen and Tess van Zalinge.

Glorious Interior Meisterwerke by Isabelle Torrelle and Christian Otto

Glorious Interior Meisterwerke is a creation of Isabelle Torrelle and Christian Otto, designers who share a love of art and textiles. After her education in textiles and making collections for others for 20 years, Isabelle took matters into her own hands last year. “Since then, I’ve had the freedom to create without restrictions. I look for the limits, and exceed them.” They combine the strengths of weaving and embroidery, making possible the interweaving of more than 90 different colours and techniques.

Royal Delft is the last remaining earthenware factory from the 17th century. Here the renowned Delft Blue is still entirely hand painted according to centuries-old tradition. At the Royal Delft Experience you will discover the complete history and production process of Royal Delftware. Here, you can feel the painters’ passion during a painting demonstration, admire our Delftware museum collection and wander through the factory where craftsmen are busy producing the products.

4. Wolzak & Kosters Serious International Business @ Museum Rijswijk

An inspiring exhibition on textile art by Preta Wolzak and Bas Kosters at Museum Rijswijk, but you probably have read my review on it. If not read my post!

5. Femmes Fatales @ Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

If you haven't visit Femmes Fatales - Strong women in Fashion yet, do it now as it is only on display until the 24th of March in Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. As fashion lover it is such an inspiring exhibition and you can combine it with Erwin Olaf's exhibition in the museum.
Read my review on Femmes Fatales and get inspired!

Femmes Fatales - Strong Women in Fashion @ Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

Introducing Colette Sol

Colette Sol is a brand for a strong and stylish woman who likes to go for something different than usual. The shoes of this brand are also striking, colourful and feature trendy prints and interesting details. Consider, for example, the combination of dashes with stars, or metallic leather with transparent mesh. The shoes are not only colourful and fashionable, but also very comfortable.
Each model is equipped with an extra padded footbed so that your foot is well supported and it feels like you walk on soft pads.

From the summer collection you will be cheerful in one go. Bright colors and fun prints predominate. Thus the SS19 collection is completely in line with the trend of 2019: color-blocking!
From red ankle boots and bright green sandals to purple and bright blue boots, in terms of color this summer is definitely good with the shoes of Colette Sol.

About
Colette Sol was founded by Miranda and Colette Sol for charitable causes that are committed to women and girls worldwide by designing beautiful, hand-made shoes.  The sisters aim to improve the lives of young women around the world, particularly those impacted by human trafficking.

In 2010, Colette Sol was inspired by MamaCash: an organisation that works against the international trafficking in women, in which underprivileged young girls are presented with a beautiful picture of Europe and subsequently end up in even more misery and poverty.

With this story in mind, the founders of Colette Sol went in search of a small organisation where they could make an active contribution. Eventually this became Mor Cati, a Turkish women's shelter where the residents make stuff from residual materials from different factories.
Colette Sol donated pieces of leather and bought the products - among other wallets and bags - that the women and girls made of them.
In recent years Colette Sol has also organised stiletto runs several times, the proceeds of which went to various organisations, including Free A Girl.

Since 2017 the brand supports the Dutch organization Comensha. This foundation is there for victims of trafficking from all parts of the world. They start a new life in apartments that are partly furnished by Colette Sol. The brand not only donates furniture and other household items, but also bicycles, baby carriages, sewing machines and, for example, children's clothing.

Since its inception in 2010, the Colette Sol brand has gained a loyal customer following in the European fashion market with a strong reputation for elegant, durable, and extremely comfortable shoes. "Our hope is that each and every time you wear your Colette Sol shoes, conversations will be sparked and awareness will be raised about the issue of human trafficking."
You will definitely get attention in their shoes and it’s the founders dream that each woman who wears them will become an ambassador and an advocate, not only for the brand, but also for other women, worldwide, so that they too can feel beautiful, strong, glamorous, and free.

Preta Wolzak & Bas Kosters in Museum Rijswijk

Impressive and inspiring are the two words that came up to me during my visit to Wolzak & Kosters serious international business exhibition in Museum Rijswijk.

Looking at the art works of Preta Wolzak, you just keep looking. So many details, so well executed, so stylish and so impressive. The handicraft is amazing! Many works by Bas Kosters gave me a smile on my face and remind me of the innocence and open-mindedness of children.
By the way I would love to have his flowers in my home!

Museum Rijswijk opened the first duo-exhibition of Preta Wolzak & Bas Kosters and it will be on display from 12 Februari to 31 March 2019.

The connection between the two artists are the urgent need to create. Both artists have their own unique view of the world: one from within self-love, the other from adoration of militant women and their protests against injustices in this world.
Both artists use textile and embroidery techniques in their work.

It's about the craziness of mankind. I think, there should be places in the world that are free from all the bad deeds of man. 

Preta Wolzak

With her art, Wolzak points a finger at the exploitation of the pristine polar region and the unknown women who fight to preserve the lands. Her protest takes place in the form of leather, sequins and embroidery on canvas, on a background of photographic and drawn images.
A similar protest can be found in her portrait series Ma Petite Inuit, of the original inhabitants, the first victims of climate change and tourism. The Bèta Angels series is a tribute to forgotten women in science, while the Fighting Females show women who acted against humanitarian and environmental abuses.

I have the urge to make a party of everything in life, put a bow around it, or decorate it, which I also recognize in the work of Preta.

Bas Kosters

Kosters presents tapestries, drawings and soft sculptures, including a new series of works about self-love called "Quest for self-love". Those who look closely at his work notice that Kosters not only has a rebellious side, but that commitment and love form the foundation of his work.

Quest for self-love is about the importance of self-appreciation at a time when everyone is looking for validation from the outside world. Kosters also shows work from the series Tears are the glitters of life, in which the tear not only symbolizes grief but demonstrates how important it is to embrace emotions.

I was impressed by the story Bas Kosters told us about a giant tapestry. The used fabrics are clothes from his late father. Also in this piece of art a coat is fabricated. His father was proud to wear his clothes, so he was very eye-catching at the municipality of his hometown.

My photo review of the opening but the photos don't justify the beauty of the art works, so you have definitely plan a visit to the museum in Rijswijk!

Some artworks are for sale! But as Bas Kosters said: "I hope you did some savings!"

This one by Preta Wolzak is definitely one of my favourites! 

Duo exhibition Preta Wolzak & Bas Kosters
Exhibition: 12 February - 31 March, 2019
Museum Rijswijk, Herenstraat 67, 2282 BR Rijswijk
Open: Tuesday - Sunday 11-17