The second edition of M-ODE, an event that focuses on the promotion of sustainable fashion projects, was held in Amsterdam. We Make M-ODE is an initiative first promoted by Iris Ruisch, who is the Director of Projects and Events, and Peter C. Leferink, Director of the M-ODE Foundation, who has been recently nominated Director of the Fashion and Design Departments of AMFI in Amsterdam.
The protagonist of this second edition was also an interesting project called Taskforce Fashion, a series of initiatives designed to promote and support the growth of emerging Dutch designers and creatives. The project was born from the alliance of independent realities: the FASHIONCLASH of Maastricht, MOD-E and the State of Fashion of Arnhem.
One of the themes proposed by Taskforce Fashion was “Fashion After Flood” the aim of which is to put the creativity of these young talents at the service of a sustainable program through projects and seminars about the alarming rise in sea levels. It has been studied, indeed, that by 2030 Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam could be completely submerged if an effective solution was not found in time. Led by an expert, designers will study the situation and then produce, in an individual context and in team, a solution that can be resonant for the fashion universe.
Other topics were promoted during this event, including the issue of second-hand clothes destined for many areas of Africa, where the system of circulation of used garments has become significantly important, as in the city of Accra in Ghana. In this regard, designer Linda Valkeman and anthropologist Carmen Hogg have created the collection “Obroni Wa Wu” meaning “dead white man’s clothing”. The collection wanted to inspire a reflection on the social impact of this reality, on how a process of “westernization” could cause the loss of costumes of identity.
Another particularly interesting theme was that of social integration and migration, addressed by Lisa Konno with her collection “BABA”, the nickname of the Turkish musician Ceylan Utlu, who provided inspiration with his style and personal story. Being part of a continuous multidisciplinary project linked to these themes, “BABA” was created in collaboration with photographer Laila Cohen, who took care of its visual aspect. Both daughters of migrant parents, Lisa and Laila filled the collection with a positive message; by narrating the relationship between parents and children through clothes, they stressed the value and richness that migrants possess as a cultural, personal and experiential enrichment.
To face the pain and anger caused by assisting to the disarming pollution produced by the fashion industry was Jessica van Halteren’s collection “Step into The Square Circle”, which saw the models dressed with clothes inspired by the fighters’ clothing worn on the ring for a boxing round. The clothes and the atmosphere were all part of an intense symbolism intended to convey the struggle that designers of this time have to face to change a fashion system so rooted, that for years has gained at the expense of the environment. It has been a collection of great impact, which has shown how great the desire to change the status quo is.
words Ludovica Mucci