THE MUCH, MUCH rocks the Paris Fashion Week

As I told you in my last post I went to Paris with THE MUCH, MUCH (I forgot about the comma last time) to report about their guerrilla shows at the Paris Fashion Week. Let me tell you one thing firs: WOW!!! - there are a lot of WOW's going through my mind this last 48 hours - 

What I have seen and experienced there in Paris is triggering, exciting, inspiring, surprising, energizing, fresh and goosebumping. THE MUCH, MUCH is about deeds, not words, and shows that deeds can make the difference.

Okay, that was my hymn, no I will tell you what exactly triggered, excited, inspired, surprised, energized, freshed and goosebumped me so MUCH, MUCH (within just one day of experience).

THE KICK-OFF

The kick-off guerrilla show on saturday was at 13.15pm at sunny Jardin des Tuileries where the Viktor&Rolf show took place. Unfortunately the big black showbus was blocked by the security, so all the models and designers went on foot to the garden. This place was full of bloggers, press and other photographers waiting for the fashionable passer-by to shoot. The models entered the Jardin and in no time they were surrounded by camera's. Each model held a board in one hand with the name of their designer on it. Interested parties (like people form VOGUE Japan or ELLE UK) talked with the designers and they interchanged each others business cards. The first attempt to show THE MUCH, MUCH to the (fashion) world was a success.

Models showing outside Jardin des Tuileries

Model of Christina Engsig showing at Jardin des T.

Scott Schuman (the Sartorialist) at Jardin des T.

Fashionable passer-by at Jardin des Tuileries

TRAFFIC JAM AT VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

After an energizing first show and a big baguette lunch (all the models too) it was time for the show at Vivienne Westwood, Le centorial, 18 rue du 4 septembre. But this time the show was complete, because the showbus was there too. The Westwood show was located in a building, in a street, so the photographers were set on one spot and not spread all over the place like at Jardin des Tuileries. The security was keeping an eye on us, but this time there were no barriers to block the bus, because the street was open for traffic. 

The intention was to park the bus at the front of the building and to wait until the security would ask to leave the place. When that would happen, the rear cover would open and the models would walk out through the crowd to cause tumult and to attract some extra attention. 

Unforeseen there was no security who asked the bus to drive away. It was like everybody - even the security - thought this was part of the Vivienne Westwood show(!!). The photographers and the public aggregated themselves behind the bus, waiting for what will come. 

- and now the WOW!!!-moment comes - 

When the rear cover went open you could hear a pin drop, but when the first model came out the bus there was a wave of camera flashes that didn't stop for the next few minutes. WOW!!! That gave me goosebumps.

Despite the traffic jam that arised there was no security in sight. The designers and their models could undisturbed present themselves to the interested parties. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Discussing the next guerrilla show at Vivienne Westwood 

The models in the showbus before the next guerrilla show

Traffic jam of photographers at the next guerrilla show 

There is so MUCH, MUCH more to tell you about my adventures with this amazing group (and why I think they are so special), but I leave it this way for now, I will tell you about THE MUCH, MUCH beyond soon. First I want to give you some time to enjoy them, because they will be in Paris until wednesday (they also have an event at the Dutch embassy this tuesday, tomorrow). So if you are not already doing it, I seriously recommend you to follow THE MUCH, MUCH and see more pictures and films on their Facebook, twitter and website

THE new generation of Fashion Designers

Did you hear about The MUCH MUCH? Because they are going to make some noooooice in the world of fashion (and beyond). The MUCH MUCH is 'present in being MUCH, has the ambition to be MUCH MUCH(er) and is above all never too MUCH'. 

Next saturday they will represent themselves during the Paris Fashion Week. While the fashionista's flaunt to the next show they will be confrontated with this fashion collective of individuals from Arnhem. The eighteen graduated students of the art academy ArtEZ give their own 'show' at different places outside, unexpected, that (definitely) will blow you away.
As being a collective, the designers present themselves and their work individually. They are individuals who present themselves as a group, a group with 'a variety of 'MUCH' styles and 'MUCH' ideas'. 
Actually I know these new generation of fashion designers for over four years. They were my classmates during the one year period that I studied at ArtEZ. So that´s what made me decide to go to Paris next week too! Next saturday (28th), when the Paris Fashion Week starts, until sunday (29th) I will follow The MUCH MUCH during their ´shows´. 
It´s unusual that a group (so big!) of fashion designers show their idea's and vision about fashion together. I think the last
group who did this were The Antwerp Six in 1986. At that time Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Marina Yee, Dirk Van Saene, Ann Demeulemeester and Dries Van Noten drove their work over to London for the British Designers Show where they catched the attention. Nowadays (most of) these designers do have a successful fashion career. 

What will become of these eighteen brave, stubborn fashion rebels only the future can tell, but let me tell you, that you will hear MUCH MUCH more from them soon and in the late future as well. 

Curious? Check The MUCH MUCH and follow Anneleen Bertels+Christina Engsig+Sarah Knuepfer+Vera Moerkens+Roderick Buijs+Korinna Van Balkom+Henriette Tilanus+Joris Suk+Pieter Eliens+Hans Hutting+Roos Mol+Aniek Zinken+Marina Sala+Liselore Frowijn+Piet Caarls+Sarah Van Ours+Cherish Brouwer+Tessa de Boer.

Just love her (chop)

If I were gay, I would definately have a crush on Garance Doré, and in fact I already have one

Accidental Chinese Hipsters

Kind of a Facebookhype, so maybe you already mentioned this one. There are two sites with the same name (Accidental Chinese Hipsters), but I like this one better. ENJOY!

PROBLEM: electronic devices are not designed to last :SOLVED?

'A phone only lasts a couple of years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. Although it's often just one part that killed it, we throw everything away because it's almost impossible to repair or upgrade'

Dave Hakkens (graduate of Design Academy Eindhoven 2013) wanted to solve this problem and invented the so called phonebloks. The bloks are like lego bricks, where you can build/costumize your own phone with. So, if you want, for example, a better camera on your phone, you can just replace the current with a better one and you don't need to buy a complete new phone. 

It seems to be soooo simple, but I think you can call this a ingenious project, something that can/will change the world and people's way of thinking. For example, what about a car that you can make longer when you are going on a family day-trip and make it easily shorter, when you are going to your work, alone? So you can spare money on the fuel and lend the rest of your car to your neighbours. 

Hakkens perfectly represents the designer as wat he/she nowadays is and does, in a nutshell: solving problems for people like you and me, and for the rest of the world. Hakkens simply describes his intention as 'trying to make the world better by making things...'

With this example (and more will be passing by) I am trying to let you understand what design and a designer are. But don't make the mistake by thinking that this is design and always will be. Because the definitions of design and a designer are continuously changing. 

Design Is The Future

Vanaf now on... I will write everything in English*. This week I start with the english master Design Cultures at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, and I really need to improve my English. 
From now on I will also tell you all my experiences regarding the Master and design itself. I think that design is the future. Design can make everybody (people like you and me) more aware of the world we live in. More aware of what we do(or don't), eat, drink, buy, use and what the concequences are of our behaviour. More aware of the beauty and vulnerability of our world, the earth were we all live, together. How? I will show you from now on. 
First I recommend you to see the rerun of yesterday's Zomergasten with pioneer, designer, entrepreneur and (communicative) artist Daan Roosegaarde. His tirelessly passion for design is not only inspiring, also his work shows that nothing is impossible and that design has no borders (see the movie below). 

* For the best I can. The plan is that my English skills will get better every post ;)