Maison Amsterdam: a must-see Fashion exhibition

The Nieuwekerk in Amsterdam is hosting a new exhibition all about fashion in Amsterdam and popular fashion designers that have found their beginnings in the very heart of the capital of the Netherlands. Since, I was a curious Fashion student, I of course had to check the exhibition out myself.

The layout of the exhibition is absolutely beautiful as it was hosted in the church Nieuwekerk. The architectural details added something mystique and beautiful to the whole feel of the exhibition. Golden details of the church and marble added a layer of extravagance to the designs displayed.

It started with a general introduction to the exhibition and of the designers whose designs were featured, it introduced the fashion scene of Amsterdam and how it has evolved over time.

In the first, room catwalk looks were displayed, some in the middle of the room others in boxes stacked on each other which added something modern to the exhibition. A beautiful contrast to the traditional features of the church.

My personal favourite part was the room that focused on gender and fashion and how the situation has evolved. Ever since fashion existed there has been a strong gender bias but within the past century, we have been moving away from the very strong spectrum of gender and how it is applied within fashion. As the exhibition explained that there are rather strong stereotypes linked to garments and colours for men and women, clearly putting them into boxes. Boxes that society has created. But as mentioned before, change is happening and gender neutrality is a central theme in a vast amount fo collections of the present breaking stereotypes and being representative of the freedom that Amsterdam is known for as a city.

What I really loved was the connection between the decoration of the rooms and the main theme. This was the case in the room that focused on gender was designed in pink which in a way is a beautiful contrast between the stereotypical colour linked to a specific gender and the movement towards gender neutrality explored in that specific room. It really allows the audience to get into the mood and dive into the world that the exhibition is trying to paint which is crucial for it to be successful and leave a mark in people's minds.

Personally, I enjoyed the exhibition, but not to the extent that I had expected myself to. I was disappointed to find many of the elaborate descript-

ions of the garments in Dutch only which makes it hard to connect and really grow acquainted with the exhibition. The layout and selected pieces however kind of balanced this out as I believe visuals and the impact that they have on the individual to be just as important as the information given about what you can see.

Thus, I would still advise anyone that is in Amsterdam to have a look and find out more about the fashion scene in Amsterdam.