©
Art direction: Glamcult Studio. Photography: Barrie Hullegie
Opening on 1 June in Arnhem, the Netherlands imagination

State of Fashion 2018

what you need to know about State of Fashion

State of Fashion supports and activates the worldwide search for a fairer, cleaner and more sustainable fashion industry. We hope to connect designers, companies, governments, and educational institutions in fashion and textile as well as, in particular, the audience in this common endeavour. This website will grow along with our search for the new luxury.

a few facts

The project is the successor to Arnhem Fashion Biënnale

State of Fashion is the new quadrennial fashion event organised by Foundation Sonsbeek & State of Fashion. it follows in the footsteps of the Arnhem Fashion Biennale, an initiative of ArtEZ Fashion and the City of Arnhem, which had five successful editions between 2005 and 2013.

Searching for the New Luxury

Searching for the New Luxury explores new definitions of luxury in response to urgent environmental and social issues: less waste and pollution, more equality, welfare and inclusiveness. How can we all contribute?

Curator of state of fashion 2018 is José Teunissen

Dean of the School of Design & Technology at the London College of Fashion and a much sought after curator, researcher and author.

what is the concept?

©
Art direction: Glamcult Studio. Photography: Barrie Hullegie

The first edition of State of Fashion opens on 1 June 2018 under the title Searching for the New Luxury, curated by José Teunissen.

Searching for the New Luxury explores new definitions of luxury in response to urgent environmental and social issues: less waste and pollution, more equality, welfare and inclusiveness. It explores new (bio)technologies, digital platforms and creative processes that fundamentally rethink traditional notions of luxury and, in so doing, contribute to a sustainable future for the industry.

state of fashion 2018 | searching for the new luxury collects current groundbreaking research and initiates experimental interdisciplinary collaborations that will start in 2018 and continue thereafter. The opening week is from 1 - 10 June 2018. The search for the 'new luxury' starts now. Join us!

Read more about the exhibition themes

Curatorial statement

'state of Fashion 2018 | searching for the new luxury' will be the first-large scale international public event dedicated to sustainable and fair fashion

The fashion system is facing a great challenge. On the one hand, designers and big brands experience the enormous pressure to produce new collections at an ever higher pace, leaving less room for reflection, contemplation and innovation, causing fashion to increasingly undermine itself. On the other hand there is the continuous race to produce at even lower costs and implement more rapid life cycles, presenting disastrous consequences for society and the environment. Globalisation, climate change and the increasing pressure on scarce agricultural land and resources make the situation even more urgent.

In addition, fashion no longer seems to be in touch with the standards and values of our current time. Fashion still presents the image of a world of classic glamour and status, a luxury dream that is no longer appealing or relevant nowadays. The Millennial generation has exchanged the car for the bike and having possessions is making way for a sharing economy.

Something has to change, that much is clear, but nobody knows how or where to begin. Nevertheless, there are numerous initiatives and projects worldwide that approach fashion and clothing in a fundamentally different way. Initiatives that do not primarily think about fashion from an economic position, or use sustainability as a cheap marketing trick, but operate on the basis of radically different questions. How can fashion contribute to a better living environment, while still fulfilling an aesthetic desire? Can an ultimate consumer good still be produced in an ecologically and socially responsible way? And how can fashion truly express the ethical standards and values of this era.

state of fashion 2018 | searching for the new luxury primarily aims to provide a stage for (often unknown) initiatives, which aim for an innovative, sustainable and fair form of fashion that still manages to seduce. It also aspires to be a breeding ground for new ideas, create interdisciplinary exchange and bring unexpected partners together. Urgent, critical, provocative and inspiring for professionals, the industry and students, as well as for a wider audience. In so doing, state of fashion 2018 | searching for the new luxury will be the first-large scale international public event dedicated to sustainable and fair fashion.

José Teunissen, Arnhem, 1 July 2017

made possible by

state of fashion 2018 | searching for the new luxury is made possible by the municipality of Arnhem, province of Gelderland and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Opening on 1 June in Arnhem, the Netherlands imagination

State of Fashion 2018

Get in contact

José Teunissen

curator

info@stateoffashion.org

Related articles

©
Eva Broekema
reuse

Lease a MUD jeans

how does it work?
©
Eva Broekema
reuse

Lease een MUD Jeans

hoe werkt het?