About
Fashion, a term that is often described as garments. In first instance, garments seem like a tool that protects us from various weather conditions. However, in reality they dig deeper into our minds than we - as consumers - are aware of. Clothing reflects memories, symbolises our believes, and makes us feel comfortable or uncomfortable about our own bodies. Garments represent specific values.
As a visual narrative designer I am extremely interested in these values. What will clothing look like in ten years' time? How can we link the concept of sustainability to garments? What will the new design strategies be? Can we resist the current fast fashion system? And what values do we as consumers recognize in our wardrobe?
The fast fashion industry pretends that we as consumers invest in an exclusive dream, a dream that is continuously being produced through advertising, with the disposable product as the norm, where clothing must be turned into waste as quickly as possible to maximize profits (Klein, 2000/2014). Bottom prices influence the (emotional) value of garments. It has become too easy to exchange clothes for new models and throwing away clothing has become the new standard. This paradox has fascinated me for a long time.
The logic of the fashion industry creates the illusion that we are investing in valuable products, but in practice the industry makes it impossible to connect our feelings and emotions to garments. In order to reduce the large waste piles to a sustainable level, we must learn to admire, take care of, and above all cherish garments again. We have to change our relationship with garments.
As a designer, I therefore focus on developing scenarios, installations, fashion designs, games and videos, which can be viewed in the portfolio section of this website. In my work I zoom in on the value system used from the perspective of the fashion industry and consumers. From this study I develop scenarios in which I translate this behaviour to (surreal) visuals, audio of text. Within this portfolio, the term "revaluation" is at the top of the priority list: How can we approach the world of garments as commodities from a new perspective, based on transparency and (emotional) sustainability? I want to challenge myself and the contemporary fashion system to design in new ways, in which time, quality, purity and sustainability are key concepts. How can we get rid of ‘the alienation’ in our own wardrobe that is driven by desire for new?
For several years I have been working within the critical fashion profession. Though my work I focus on an audience which is not active within this field. I think that, in order to actually change the contemporary fashion system, we as consumers must first understand why it is relevant to adjust our relationship with garments. I would like to stimulate this debate and involve as many people as possible. I describe my work in an accessible way, appealing to the imagination of the audience. Moreover, I support my work with a set auditory that translates my study of the fashion industry into (visual) narratives.
For the future I hope to meet 'peers' and to combine our efforts and ideas. Do you want to know more about my work? Are you interested or do you work in the same field? Do you see an opportunity to work together or would you just like exchange ideas? Do not hesitate to send me an email. Together we can shake up the fashion system and shape a fashion future in which people, animals and nature all make a valuable contribution.
Klein, N. (2014). No Logo (M, Stoltenkamp, Trans.). [Ibooks], Breda, The Netherlands: De Geus. (Original work published 2000).
what I do
visual narrative
audio narrative
fashion design/communication
concept development
installation
creative writing
skills
pattern techniques
photoshop, indesign, illustrator
tailoring
needlework
(field) research
artistic research
values and therefore design strategies
revaluation
respect
humour
aesthetics
accessibility
playfulness
colorful
transparency
contact
bobbine.berden@gmail.com
+31652839376
instagram
Experience
2020
State of Fashion x M-ODE x FASHIONCLASH
Residency for Responsible fashion
Social project, participant
2019
Studio Nepco
Internship design, narrative, performance
Production and design
2019
Warehouse: A Magazine Reader 02
Workshop, creative/critical writing, image
Printed publication
2019
Elisa van Joolen, PORTAL 004
Workshop
Printed publication
2019
ArtEZ What If Material Could Talk?
Contribution, Concept, Scary Sales - how much are you worth?
Printed publication
2019
Jan van Eyck x RCDF
Contribution, conversation to redress a fashion disaster
Public talks
2018
MOAM x Paradiso Amsterdam
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2018
The Pink Church
Contribution, public interview; Fashion?
Public talks
2018
FORZA FASHION HOUSE
Contribution, fashion talent take over, graphic folder
Design tour
2018
Fashionclash Festival
Project, ‘God is a woman’
Contribution, designer
Exhibition
2018
Fashionclash Festival
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2018
HKU AWARD, Innovation
Contribution, speaker/winner
Project, installation ‘Afwezige Aanwezigheid’
Pitch
2018
Art Week Rotterdam
Platform, Object
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2017
Dutch Design Week
Platform, Design Perron
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2016
Eudon Choi
Internship design, pattern making
Production, communication
2015
Kaufhaus, vintage store
Workshop upcyclen, design, sales
Production
About
Fashion, a term that is often described as garments. In first instance, garments seem like a tool that protects us from various weather conditions. However, in reality they dig deeper into our minds than we - as consumers - are aware of. Clothing reflects memories, symbolises our believes, and makes us feel comfortable or uncomfortable about our own bodies. Garments represent specific values.
As a visual narrative designer I am extremely interested in these values. What will clothing look like in ten years' time? How can we link the concept of sustainability to garments? What will the new design strategies be? Can we resist the current fast fashion system? And what values do we as consumers recognize in our wardrobe?
The fast fashion industry pretends that we as consumers invest in an exclusive dream, a dream that is continuously being produced through advertising, with the disposable product as the norm, where clothing must be turned into waste as quickly as possible to maximize profits (Klein, 2000/2014). Bottom prices influence the (emotional) value of garments. It has become too easy to exchange clothes for new models and throwing away clothing has become the new standard. This paradox has fascinated me for a long time.
The logic of the fashion industry creates the illusion that we are investing in valuable products, but in practice the industry makes it impossible to connect our feelings and emotions to garments. In order to reduce the large waste piles to a sustainable level, we must learn to admire, take care of, and above all cherish garments again. We have to change our relationship with garments.
As a designer, I therefore focus on developing scenarios, installations, fashion designs, games and videos, which can be viewed in the portfolio section of this website. In my work I zoom in on the value system used from the perspective of the fashion industry and consumers. From this study I develop scenarios in which I translate this behaviour to (surreal) visuals, audio of text. Within this portfolio, the term "revaluation" is at the top of the priority list: How can we approach the world of garments as commodities from a new perspective, based on transparency and (emotional) sustainability? I want to challenge myself and the contemporary fashion system to design in new ways, in which time, quality, purity and sustainability are key concepts. How can we get rid of ‘the alienation’ in our own wardrobe that is driven by desire for new?
For several years I have been working within the critical fashion profession. Though my work I focus on an audience which is not active within this field. I think that, in order to actually change the contemporary fashion system, we as consumers must first understand why it is relevant to adjust our relationship with garments. I would like to stimulate this debate and involve as many people as possible. I describe my work in an accessible way, appealing to the imagination of the audience. Moreover, I support my work with a set auditory that translates my study of the fashion industry into (visual) narratives.
For the future I hope to meet 'peers' and to combine our efforts and ideas. Do you want to know more about my work? Are you interested or do you work in the same field? Do you see an opportunity to work together or would you just like exchange ideas? Do not hesitate to send me an email. Together we can shake up the fashion system and shape a fashion future in which people, animals and nature all make a valuable contribution.
Klein, N. (2014). No Logo (M, Stoltenkamp, Trans.). [Ibooks], Breda, The Netherlands: De Geus. (Original work published 2000).
what I do
visual narrative
audio narrative
fashion design/communication
concept development
installation
creative writing
skills
pattern techniques
photoshop, indesign, illustrator
tailoring
needlework
(field) research
artistic research
values and therefore design strategies
revaluation
respect
humour
aesthetics
accessibility
playfulness
colorful
transparency
contact
bobbine.berden@gmail.com
+31652839376
Experience
2020
State of Fashion x M-ODE x FASHIONCLASH
Residency for Responsible fashion
Social project, participant
2019
Studio Nepco
Internship design, narrative, performance
Production and design
2019
Warehouse: A Magazine Reader 02
Workshop, creative/critical writing, image
Printed publication
2019
Elisa van Joolen, PORTAL 004
Workshop
Printed publication
2019
ArtEZ What If Material Could Talk?
Contribution, Concept, Scary Sales - how much are you worth?
Printed publication
2019
Jan van Eyck x RCDF
Contribution, conversation to redress a fashion disaster
Public talks
2018
MOAM x Paradiso Amsterdam
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2018
The Pink Church
Contribution, public interview; Fashion?
Public talks
2018
FORZA FASHION HOUSE
Contribution, fashion talent take over, graphic folder
Design tour
2018
Fashionclash Festival
Project, ‘God is a woman’
Contribution, designer
Exhibition
2018
Fashionclash Festival
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2018
HKU AWARD, Innovation
Contribution, speaker/winner
Project, installation ‘Afwezige Aanwezigheid’
Pitch
2018
Art Week Rotterdam
Platform, Object
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2017
Dutch Design Week
Platform, Design Perron
Contribution, installation
Exhibition
2016
Eudon Choi
Internship design, pattern making
Production, communication
2015
Kaufhaus, vintage store
Workshop upcyclen, design, sales
Production