I went to my first fashion show this weekend. It wasn't really a fashion show in the sense of a Paris fashion week. No models strutting down runways. For this biennial event, designers take over clothing stores, bakeries, thrift shops and even a bicycle-repair shop.
The first event I went to was definitely not what I was expecting. More art than fashion. It was the work of students of the Brussels fashion school. As the spokeswoman for Modo said, they're students creating their first works so it's more about discovering new methods and ideas.
A lot of the works seem to draw their inspiration from nature. There was a dragon, jellyfish and a seahorse. Others evoked water or fire.
A lot of the works seem to draw their inspiration from nature. There was a dragon, jellyfish and a seahorse. Others evoked water or fire.
On Sunday, I wandered all over the Dansaert area of downtown Brussels with my map. I ducked into all sorts of places, clicking away with my camera. I also spoke with several designers. It was really cool to hear them discuss their work. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what I was seeing.
Julie Menuge, who finished school in 2007, combined the old Silk Road of Marco Polo with the modern trade routes from China. She combined polyester with silk and filled the inside of well-known logos with traditional patterns.
"My work is based on the study of fabrics, materials' story, how it reveals the people's story," she said.
Julie Menuge, who finished school in 2007, combined the old Silk Road of Marco Polo with the modern trade routes from China. She combined polyester with silk and filled the inside of well-known logos with traditional patterns.
"My work is based on the study of fabrics, materials' story, how it reveals the people's story," she said.
Another designer -- Jessie Lecomte -- said she drew her inspiration from birds, geometric pleats and folds and Japanese paintings. Her collection was set up in a design shop that sells funky eyeglasses, furniture and other odd pieces.
"I picked to show here because I really like the shop," Lecomte said. "I like the people who work here also. That's a big part of why I did it here."
"I picked to show here because I really like the shop," Lecomte said. "I like the people who work here also. That's a big part of why I did it here."
You can read about the other designer I spoke to, Emilie Beaumont, in the article. The style for this type of article is very different than what I'm used to. I had to -- and still need to -- become more comfortable with descriptions and adjectives. Because so much of my journalism training was in politics, I've found I'm not as good with creating impressions and loosening things up. It was definitely a learning experience!
For more photos, check out my Flickr photostream from the weekend.
For more photos, check out my Flickr photostream from the weekend.