Rising Stars of International Fashion Week, Amsterdam

International Fashion Week, Amsterdam cemented the city as an emerging cultural melting pot, hosting designers and other creatives hailing from ten different countries- Ghana, Pakistan, Czech Republic, USA, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Morocco, UK, and Canada. In February 2015, The Netherlands Enterprise Agency and The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands subsidized the funding for the Ghana Design Network. It’s aim being to stimulate a better creative eco-system in the country. Saturday, March 9th, International Fashion Week Amsterdam welcomed fourteen established Ghanaian designers to the fore.

Abstract African prints from the likes of Threaded Tribes graced the runway. Threaded Tribes designer Beatrice Mankatah showcased her cloaks with styles and patterns reminiscent of the relaxed Ghanaian smock.

Josh Birchjones proves budding creative talent is immune to age. The English prodigy launched his label Designed by Josh at thirteen-years-old. The bespoke womenswear designer specializes in refined, glamorous pieces that can easily transform from day to nightwear. Titled “Sweet Dreams,” Josh’s collection of couture gowns dazzled the runway. His designs varied from the simplified elegance of a gold dress tantalized with a high slit down the thigh to a strapless scarlet gown burgeoning with ruffled tiers. Although young, Josh is a fashion force to be reckoned with, garnering international respect and solidifying a distinct vision at a young age.

Dutch designer Omar Munie proves no dream is unreachable. In 1994, at nine-years-old, Omar fled the catastrophic civil war inflicting his native country, Somalia, and settled in the Netherlands where he later endeavored breaking into the fashion industry. Today, Omar is widely recognized as a leading handbag designer, with the likes of Hilary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey toting his bags. Omar perfected the delicate balance between functionality and fashion, with his creations offering the wearer both style and utility. Omar maintains a sustainable practice in his atelier, utilizing recycled materials like leather or old fishing nets in the construction of his handbags. At International Fashion Week, Amsterdam, Omar showcased a variety of bags with stark shapes in earthy tones. He coupled his fashion show with a group dance. The models convened on stage wearing black tape with white script over their mouths. The inscriptions proclaimed gender, racial, or sexual identities, to name a few. The dance and show celebrated diversity and acceptance, tenets of Omar’s fashion house. 

Canadian designer Dalayne Dixon’s collection left a subversive yet intriguing sentiment, blending edgy, rocker and romantic inspirations. Dixon juxtaposed fabrics like tulle, vinyl, and faux fur in dark and metallic hues to create eclectic looks. Following her graduation from The Art Institute of Vancouver in 2012, Dixon opened her eponymous label. Dixon’s mission is to empower women to step out of societal bounds and into their own skin, or a second skin designed by Dixon herself.

Issam Balaloui, designer of Wachma Couture, is one of the most prominent designers in Morocco, and his influence is beginning to cross borders as well. As a child, Issam’s residence was split between the United States and Morocco. Thus, a manifold of cultural inspirations informs his designs. Issam showcased his SS19 collection at the International Fashion Week, Amsterdam. The collection consists of modern, androgynous pieces with punk oddities and Moroccan flairs. The intermingling between colorful Moroccan-inspired jewelry and sharp suit tailoring is representative of the duality Issam experienced growing up.

Bahar Aydin of Millasu brought her debut collection to International Fashion Week, Amsterdam. Aydin is a lawyer turned fashion designer hellbent on dressing today's luxurious and graceful women. Inspired to make a change in her own life, she fashions her creations to ensure that women can strut with an aura of confidence, elegance, and appeal that radiates from within and reflects the incandescence of her sparkling designs.