One Size Fits All
In the world of Fashion, the Netherlands has long played second fiddle to Belgium’s acclaimed avant-gardists. But with the emergence of a little-known Dutch designer named JOFF, the tides could well be turning...and revelers can see for themselves during New York Fashion Week.
Sure, there’s Viktor & Rolf, but does anyone think “Amsterdam” when counting the world’s fashion hotbeds? All this, however, is slowly coming to change. Call it a shift in public interest, but Holland’s often deconstructionist designers and innovators (read: inaccessible?) have begun to steal away a bit of their southern neighbor’s limelight, all while remaining true to their mostly un-muddied perspective and aesthetic. One of the rising stars of this Dutch development is a man named JOFF (note, the CAPS are not an error
a 28-year-old designer who grew up in the shackles of an extremely religious Jehovah’s Witness family, left for art school, and subsequently “found himself” having been forced to sever all ties to his family. His work originally began as a direct response to the restrictive culture he was raised in, with pieces hiding as much skin as possible (dramatically high collars and uncomfortable cuts are part of the appeal).
As he has matured as a designer, however, his clothing has become more focused upon himself; specifically his desires and aesthetic, perhaps to an extreme. JOFF’s new collection “Ofoffjoff” could be perceived as being downright narcissistic—every piece was fashioned precisely to his measurements, and all the models he has enlisted for his upcoming show (a veritable Non-model Who’s Who in New York music, art, and fashion) are to be approximately his size and build. The work in theory is meant for everyone, and each outfit is entirely unisex, albeit only available in one size: JOFF size. One critic recently described his latest offerings as gorgeous “Pageboy Renaissance Gear,” which, he says, in some ways is accurate.
Having spent years tinkering in the fashion world (his designs gracing the pages of I.D. and the now deceased but highly regarded Dutch), and recently co-curating the first ever ‘Arnhem Mode Biennale’ where he managed to fly in recent Mercury Prize-winning band Antony and the Johnsons to perform, JOFF is fairly acquainted with the Ins and Outs of what yields a successful designer. However, recently JOFF has taken a slightly combative yet courageous step to eschew all industry norms and design entirely according to his every whim. With blinding Easter-egg yellows and long voluminous black capes, the juxtapositions of extreme shades and shapes are arresting—and deliberately so. In many ways, it’s the ultimate validation for the outsider: a collection so personal the designer doesn’t really care if we like it or not. One shirt in particular boasts a beautifully complex embroidered design, “meant to mimic the look of hair,” the designer says. Perhaps what’s so remarkable about this is despite the sometimes outlandish looks, each T-shirt and pant on their own is exceedingly wearable.
Having already conquered his hometown of Amsterdam, JOFF is now poised for his North American debut on September 14 at New York’s Fashion Week. At 6 p.m. next Wednesday, JOFF will premiere his spring collection at the Art Director Club (106 West 29th Street), and, much to our delight, the production will be choreographed with live music from Refinery29 favorite, the Brooklyn-based band Grizzly Bear. Be sure to save the date.
'Article and Pictures from http://www.refinery29.com'
A very Interesting designer...Does anyone have any of the Pics from the show???
In the world of Fashion, the Netherlands has long played second fiddle to Belgium’s acclaimed avant-gardists. But with the emergence of a little-known Dutch designer named JOFF, the tides could well be turning...and revelers can see for themselves during New York Fashion Week.
Sure, there’s Viktor & Rolf, but does anyone think “Amsterdam” when counting the world’s fashion hotbeds? All this, however, is slowly coming to change. Call it a shift in public interest, but Holland’s often deconstructionist designers and innovators (read: inaccessible?) have begun to steal away a bit of their southern neighbor’s limelight, all while remaining true to their mostly un-muddied perspective and aesthetic. One of the rising stars of this Dutch development is a man named JOFF (note, the CAPS are not an error
a 28-year-old designer who grew up in the shackles of an extremely religious Jehovah’s Witness family, left for art school, and subsequently “found himself” having been forced to sever all ties to his family. His work originally began as a direct response to the restrictive culture he was raised in, with pieces hiding as much skin as possible (dramatically high collars and uncomfortable cuts are part of the appeal). As he has matured as a designer, however, his clothing has become more focused upon himself; specifically his desires and aesthetic, perhaps to an extreme. JOFF’s new collection “Ofoffjoff” could be perceived as being downright narcissistic—every piece was fashioned precisely to his measurements, and all the models he has enlisted for his upcoming show (a veritable Non-model Who’s Who in New York music, art, and fashion) are to be approximately his size and build. The work in theory is meant for everyone, and each outfit is entirely unisex, albeit only available in one size: JOFF size. One critic recently described his latest offerings as gorgeous “Pageboy Renaissance Gear,” which, he says, in some ways is accurate.
Having spent years tinkering in the fashion world (his designs gracing the pages of I.D. and the now deceased but highly regarded Dutch), and recently co-curating the first ever ‘Arnhem Mode Biennale’ where he managed to fly in recent Mercury Prize-winning band Antony and the Johnsons to perform, JOFF is fairly acquainted with the Ins and Outs of what yields a successful designer. However, recently JOFF has taken a slightly combative yet courageous step to eschew all industry norms and design entirely according to his every whim. With blinding Easter-egg yellows and long voluminous black capes, the juxtapositions of extreme shades and shapes are arresting—and deliberately so. In many ways, it’s the ultimate validation for the outsider: a collection so personal the designer doesn’t really care if we like it or not. One shirt in particular boasts a beautifully complex embroidered design, “meant to mimic the look of hair,” the designer says. Perhaps what’s so remarkable about this is despite the sometimes outlandish looks, each T-shirt and pant on their own is exceedingly wearable.
Having already conquered his hometown of Amsterdam, JOFF is now poised for his North American debut on September 14 at New York’s Fashion Week. At 6 p.m. next Wednesday, JOFF will premiere his spring collection at the Art Director Club (106 West 29th Street), and, much to our delight, the production will be choreographed with live music from Refinery29 favorite, the Brooklyn-based band Grizzly Bear. Be sure to save the date.
'Article and Pictures from http://www.refinery29.com'
A very Interesting designer...Does anyone have any of the Pics from the show???
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