Weaving + Shape Shifting x Books / Busy – The Journey to Batik Blog

= Dutch Design Week 2018

On the market during DDW 2018

“If not us, then who?” Good question! At Strijp-S

Recycled textile by Enschede Textielstad at DDW 2018

Lisa Konno set-up in the Veemgebouw at DDW 2018

First thing I noticed, How Busy It Was! It was Tuesday and Strijp-S was covered with a crowd. Good that Dutch Design got such a big audience interested, but it makes it hard to see more then two or three locations. And with so many many locations participating now, you need to see more locations in order to discover the true cherries of that year. So I totally felt I was missing out!
I didn’t had that much time and no time to go a second day, so I decided to go to the locations I liked best last year {see previous post with the label ‘Dutch Design Week‘}.
I think nowadays you need at least 2 days and enough time to check online which things actually make it to peoples online feeds.
So this years review is just a little peak of this years DDW!

I started at Strijp-S were I got my press-card and a really fun, but heavy goodie-bag!
I made my way through the tinyhouses and bright yellow NS pop-up station towards the Veemgebouw. I went in the ‘skatepark’ which was as far as I could remember participating the first time, or I never really went in before. From the description online, I marked it as a must-see, but inside the recycled textile-installation was just a garland going through the building…
In the Veemgebouw things got much better. It was less impressive this year, because I really missed the carwash experience while entering the parking-lot, but still I enjoyed what I saw inside.
One highlight definitely was The Swedish School of Textiles. They had a simple yet affective set-up of experiments by their students. Which were both fun and full of potential. I talked with them briefly and they told me this was their first time here and would definitely participate in future DDW’s, can’t wait!
Another highlight was again the Craft Council Nederland ‘How & Wow Studio’. There were the cutest baby looms I ever saw, Bas Kosters lifejacket robot bags and other pretty handmade stuff gathered in a colourful setting, what’s not to like!

Presentation The Swedish School of Textiles at the Veemgebouw at DDW 2018

Baby loom and handy-crafters

at the Craft Council ‘How & Wow Studio’,

in the background Bas Kosters robotbag,

at the Veemgebouw at DDW 2018

Part of the Craft Council ‘How & Wow Studio’

at the Veemgebouw at DDW 2018

At Bijenkorf during DDW 2018

Modebelofte

After the Veemgebouw I headed towards the City Center of Eindhoven. In the Bijenkorf an artist-in-residence had took place in the roof-top-room, so I popped in to see. I think the Artist had fun making the dripping paintings, but what it had to do with design was beyond me. However, it made a pretty image for a pretty picture.

In the old V&D they hosted again the Modebelofte. Inside of a mixture of a snow-globe and Barbapapa’s home, the exhibition was held. The theme was ‘Shape Shifters’, so clothing was shown that would transform you, even create a new species by wearing them. Next to the clothing, little projections on the walls showed how the outfits would move.

It was such a weird realisation not liking the “static” cloths, but liking how they moved. I realised how we often buy our clothing of the “rack” or of a mannequin or picture online and not really buy it on how it moves. Yes, we let 2D models show fashion on a runway, but they move mostly more like ‘clothing-hangers’ if we are being honest {happily this is getting less and less}.

Interesting that by presenting clothing that shape shifts, you actually appreciate the power of clothing and how they can change the way they make you feel, walk or move. How the transformation can and should be part of the fun of wearing clothing!