MAARTEN VAN MULKEN

Black Sheep

https://www.instagram.com/maartenvanmulken/

Location

amsterdam / The Netherlands

University

maastricht academy of fine arts and Design

Main Manufacturing Countries

The Netherlands

Contact

Maarten Van Mulken is a fashion designer and label based in the Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The main focus of the label is on womenswear collections, but there are many side projects variating from menswear, performance and objects.

Characteristic for Maarten’s work is the theatrical aspect. “I try to look at my work with an eye for detail, but I mostly want to create a big gesture within the general picture. Visually you could characterize it as an in-your-face aggression, where I do not only want to show beauty, but make the audience reflect and, hopefully, sometimes make them feel awkward. This doesn’t take away that I try to make my designs, in my esthetics, attractive for my audience.”
The created collections are based on concepts that are meant to disrupt normal life, referring to different fields within art and combining them with social issues nowadays. The style can be described as dark, twisted and vibrant.
Under the label, Maarten already created several collections, objects, items for retail and performances.

Latest Collection

UNKNOWN ENTRY EVENT

UNKNOWN ENTRY EVENT is a collection that challenges the fashion standards and normativity we experience as individuals.
It crosses boundaries between the old couture, the fast-fashion industry, the absurdities we experience in normal live and the questions that come with it.
What is happening? What did already happen? And more important; what will come next? Can we anticipate on this event or will it be out of our hands and we just have to sit back and watch?
The collection is about inner acceptations, a struggle, and empowerment to all these absurdities coming our way and how we deal with them.

It will be a non-fashionshow-show. A variety circus where we hold mockery of the old and the new. Of the standards we hold as people but also let’s us see an imaginary world.
The collection is built out of organic, repurposed fabrics and recycled ones. The garments are made to last.
I used a circus themed collection that gives a nod to the old haute couture where everything is exaggerated. It holds a mockery with everything we now know in fashion and challenges new perspectives.
The term empowerment plays a big part in this collection and in this what would happen with new sudden things that would happen. Which in this case is more important then ever.
Nevertheless, my collections are always about an inner acceptation, a struggle and empowerment. It again poses questions to the audience.
Bring back the old standards in the fashion industry where garments and concepts are celebrated, but enter a new entry event in where inclusivity is the key in every standard we should hold and should live by.

the collection is performed at fashionclash festival 2021.
In collaboration and with the help of fashionclash festival.

Fashion Design & concept development by MAARTEN VAN MULKEN
Choreography & direction by GIOVANNI BRAND⠀
Performed at and collaboration with FASHIONCLASH FESTIVAL⠀
Music & producer LUCANDREA BARALDI⠀
Scenography & production SESSIBON FASHION EVENTS
Jewelry by YANN SUHARD
Print development & assistant project manager ANNA DAVIES
Bag embroidery by JOLINDE VERBAANDERT
Photography by PASARELLA
Hair by KEVIN MURPHY⠀
Make-up By ART OF COLORS &
INIKA ORGANIC

Previous collections

VIOLENT TRANSGRESSIONS

'VOID' by Maarten Van Mulken & Laura Knipsael

VOID

KILL YOUR DARLINGS

Latest Collection

UNKNOWN ENTRY EVENT

Previous collections

VIOLENT TRANSGRESSIONS

'VOID' by Maarten Van Mulken & Laura Knipsael

VOID

KILL YOUR DARLINGS

Films