Commissioned by Creative Industries Fund NL, FASHIONCLASH,
M-ODE and State of Fashion launched the research-based collaboration and multidisciplinary partnership Taskforce Fashion in 2019. In co-creation with Dutch design talent and in dialogue with the fashion industry, the three platforms explore through various activities the transformative role of fashion concerning societal issues and a sustainable vision for the future.
The fashion platforms FASHIONCLASH, M-ODE and State of Fashion aim to investigate the relevance of fashion - now and in the future. Based on their entrepreneurial, experimental and innovative strength they are at the heart of Taskforce Fashion.
Markéta Martišková
FASHIONCLASH is an innovative and interdisciplinary showcase platform for fashion and a worldwide network of designers, artists and partners. Since 2009, FASHIONCLASH has grown from an annual fashion event to a renowned institute for launching groundbreaking fashion projects and experimental cross-overs. With ten years experience and a unique vision, FASHIONCLASH has gained a powerful position in the fashion world as a platform and catalyst for future talent. FASHIONCLASH has offered a podium to over 1000 designers and artists. Their portfolio includes more than 300 projects including fashion shows, exhibitions, performances, interdisciplinary projects, fashion talks and events in the Netherlands, Europe and China, and there is a growing interest from Latin America and Asia.
“Fashion is woven into every layer of society and has the ability to manifest itself in a multidisciplinary way."
Our passion for fashion, as well as the essence of FASHIONCLASH, stems from how the art of fashion can contribute to humans, to our society, to culture and to our economy. Not only can fashion designers capture and translate the zeitgeist in a powerful and engaging way, but they also speculate about the future. Something that is needed now more than ever. "
- Branko Popovic, FASHIONCLASH
©Team Peter Stigter, Carlijn Veurink, FASHIONCLASH Festival 2018 / ©Sem Shayne, profile Branko
The M-ODE Foundation elevates talented fashion designers, future generation developers, start-ups and dare devils in the creative industry to create durable and responsible enterprises, products and movements. With extensive experience in the fashion industry as well as higher education, M-ODE stands for sustainable innovation and the growth of healthy fashion businesses while underlining the importance of talent development and education for future generations. Since 2018 M-ODE provides various tools and guidelines as a coaching hub including events, workshops, seminars and masterclasses. M-ODE brings together relevant expertise regarding marketing & press, international production and sales possibilities, and creates opportunities for developing an international network and launching cross-disciplinairy collaborations.
©Team Peter Stigter, WE MAKE M-ODE Expo 2019
“We urgently need to change the system.”
M-ODE empowers a diverse blend of fashion startups and promising fashion designers within a rapidly changing fashion industry. We help them to become the new voices within a culture of creating, realizing and presenting fashion. We connect and create long-term collaborations with a strong responsibility towards people and the planet. M-ODE’s way of working is cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral; embracing an inclusive and social drive to offer both cultural value and entrepreneurial fundament. We guide, coach and co-create with tomorrow’s talent.”
- Iris Ruisch, M-ODE
©Team Peter Stigter - Obroni Wa Wu x Bonne Suits, Carmen Hogg & Linda Valkeman, WE MAKE MODE 2019 / ©Annelie Bruijn, Parool - profile Iris
©Eva Broekema
State of Fashion is an international and interdisciplinary fashion platform, which structurally researches the state of fashion and informs the audience. From their location in Arnhem, State of Fashion puts current topics on the agenda and unites designers, companies, scientists, studies and other stakeholders in fashion and textile, with the ambition to make their industrie more resilient and future-proof. With among others a festival, discussion programs, labs voor experimental design, expositions, and publications, State of Fashion guides the focus of its audience to a more fair, sustainable and humane future. State of Fashion builds on the Arnhem Fashion Biennale (2005 - 2013) and the profile of Arnhem as the junction of innovation, research and innovation in fashion.
“The factors of innovation and attraction that are inherent to fashion, are an important catalyst for triggering the much needed change.
Fashion has a transformative power, a power to engage and connect people. We offer a stage and a meeting point to disrupters and changemakers worldwide, who want to contribute to a better future through fashion.”
- Esther Muñoz Grootveld, State of Fashion
©Eva Broekema / ©Bas van Spankeren, profile Esther
Creative Industries Fund NL is the Dutch cultural fund for architecture, design and digital culture, as well as every imaginable crossover. The Fund strives to make a substantial contribution to the quality of professional design practice within and especially between the disciplines of architecture, design and digital culture. Part of this endeavour is the interdisciplinary interplay between the cultural, social and economic domains. The Fund supports exceptional and innovative projects and activities of designers, makers and cultural institutions in the creative industries.
Based on this mission - and part of the grant programme policy for Design - the Fund commissioned fashion platforms FASHIONCLASH, M-ODE en State to initiate the multidisciplinary partnershop Taskforce Fashion. Taskforce Fashion’s aim is to address and tackle the environmental impact and unsustainable production methods in the fashion industry, which is now more urgent than ever before.
The Netherlands continues to be one of the leading countries when it comes to research for innovation and sustainability in the fashion industry. Our country counts several progressive design practices that do no avoid societal and environmental challenges. The Fund aims to strengthen the development, positioning and profiling of these experimental and promising fashion practices in order to empower them. The Fund also hopes that Taskforce Fashion will help to fulfill a guiding role for the Dutch fashion industry aimed at innovation and sustainability.
©Aad Hoogendoorn, Bring it on! 2019
Taskforce Fashion has received support from among others the municipality of Maastricht, the municipality of Arnhem, the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Waternet and Waterschap Amstel, Gooi & Vecht, Waterschap Rijn & IJssel and many others.
