Graduates of 2019!

Graduation day is truly a once-in-a-lifetime special day. One to be treasured and never forgotten. A celebration of your achievements in successfully completing a programme and recognition that you are up to the fold. A celebration of the fact that now you know and can do so much. That you have lots to offer to world. We would like to congratulate with Evelina, Robin B., Aziza, Joanna, Zara, Andrea, Martijn, Mick, Avalon, Francesca, Robin U., Myrthe, Lene and Isabelle for accomplishing with their academic goals and earn their bachelor’s degree with Honours. with great pleasure, we would like to introduce you to our 2019 graduates!

Evelina Anglickaite

Fashion with Textiles Design BA (Hons)

“I aim to keep the traditions of haute couture whilst thinking in terms of sustainability.”

“Western beauty is radiance, majesty, grandness, and broadness. In comparison, Eastern beauty is desolateness. Humility. Hidden beauty” (Shozo Kato). Japanese aesthetics are a set of ancient ideals which underpin much of Japanese culture and aesthetics norms on what is considered tasteful and beautiful. It is a worldview, a lifestyle. Seen throughout architecture, design, and art, it is the true core behind traditional Japan, defining every element and detail. For my Final Major Project, a deeper insight was taken into Japanese aesthetic principles and architecture – that truly was the surrounding environment of ancient Japanese culture – as well as exploring the relationship between nature and innovation, simplicity, tranquillity and most importantly – sustainability. With the environmental issues of the present day, it is crucial to shift the fashion industry towards being more sustainable. My evening-wear collection translates the Japanese aesthetic principles into modern day fashion design, inspiring the audience to think and dress in harmony with nature. As a fashion designer, I have and feel the responsibility to shift the fashion industry, to present a new lifestyle. It is my aim to keep the traditions of haute couture whilst thinking in terms of nature and the environmental issues of the modern day.

Robin Broekhuizen

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“I aim to prove success is possible through authentic and empathetic leading.”

I have always wanted to study fashion due to the uniqueness of the industry: an industry that allows the combination of creativity and business to create a community that is inclusive to everyone. After my reality check of the harshness of the industry during an internship in London, I realized I wanted to improve the reputation of the industry. What better way to do this than to have a managing role where employees are treated humanely and with respect, while hitting targets and creating a profitable, happy business environment? So, that has become my goal: to prove success is possible through authentic and empathetic leading. The question was how I could get there… I began writing my dissertation about finding a solution for dropping profit margins in physical, bricks-and-mortar retailers. Due to the increase of online shopping, local shops are closing down, not being able to keep up with the all the offers mass online shopping provides. Therefore, my Final Major Project is a business plan that acts as a solution to this issue: to combine online shopping with local stores through a local platform, promoting an empathetic and collaborative business environment. Modernizing traditional retail is something many fashion companies are working on: with this in mind and in addition to potentially starting this business idea for real, I can foresee management roles in my future career. I will hopefully get the chance to learn from great managers, while setting the stepping-stones to improving the work culture within the fashion industry.

Aziza El Wanni

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“My label is inspired by modest fashion, functionality and simplicity.”

As a result of my travels, I am inspired by different cultures and religions which has driven me to create a contemporary and modest brand of garments for women. This idea has helped me shape my Final Major Project and has given me clarity about what my passion is. The Final Major Project has given me the freedom to combine both my creative and business skills, developed and gained during my time at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy, by setting up a small independent label called Empress. Empress is inspired by modest fashion, functionality and simplicity. The brand identity is a combination of European simplicity and middle eastern allure and mystery. The brand is inspired by strong women that find power in femininity, whether that is in modesty or simply dressing comfortably and “easy”. The quality of the garments is ensured by the use of natural fibres such as cotton and linen. The idea behind the brand is to provide a unique item of clothing that can be used by any woman of any age, religion and ethnicity: some people call this garment abaya, others call it kimono, or kaftan, or long cardigan. Either way, the concept and goal remains the same: the garment will be just a tool to make women feel empowered and comfortable. The uniqueness of the brand is that only a few units for each style will be created and there will be no restocks after a style has been sold out. This will keep the brand and its one-of-a-kind creations unique and exclusive. I would like to start off small and eventually grow, depending on the market and its needs.

Joanna Grice

Fashion with Textiles Design BA (Hons)

“I have discovered a love for prints and textiles.”

I have considerable experience in different areas of fashion (styling, photography, PR, marketing) that I have gained starting from a young age. I have always been very creative, but of course to be creative you don’t necessarily have to be precise or a perfectionist, so I really wanted to challenge myself and do a degree in Fashion Design because I am far from being that. This degree has not only given me the necessary skills for designing, pattern making and sewing, but I have discovered a love for print and textiles and I hope to expand my knowledge of both. My Final Major Project gave me the chance to focus on what is really important in the now-and-future of fashion, which is sustainability. I used natural dyes, existing fabrics and up-cycling of fabrics, by making textile manipulations with ZERO waste. All my energy went into making my final collection as economical, ecological and as socially responsible as possible. I took Japan as my inspiration because the founder of zero-waste design principles came from Japan and I have had an interest in Asian cultures for as long as I can remember. By using my initiative I was able to source fabrics without actually spending any money. I hope to gain more experience in the fashion industry in the next 2-3 years and then start my own brand. I also have many other passions: so, who knows, maybe I will break out of fashion in the future!

Zara Kanaan

Fashion with Textiles Design BA (Hons)

“I have always intertwined the romanticized shapes and curves within my work.”

Since the age of seven, I remember sketching designs of the elegant, female body, enclothed in materials that accentuated that femininity. Throughout my studies, I have always intertwined the romanticized shapes and curves within my work, which illuminated my beliefs of what a woman is defined by. My final collection is no different, including creations inspired by the book The Four-Dimensional Human by Laurence Scott, which undresses the connectivity, physically and virtually, between the human body and technology. The femininity of the collection is captured between the delicate organza and silk material in contrast with the artificial latex and leather. Fabrics are placed intricately in the shape of curves, mimicking the silhouette of the female body. The concept of humans evolving with technology defined the design and aesthetic of the collection, with comprehensive research and study that came hand-in-hand with my dissertation. In terms of the future, I hope to keep my fascination of new technologies in mind, as I begin my new venture in researching for either advanced sustainable materials or technology involving the production chain.

Andrea La Rosa

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“During my internship I realized how much impact this industry has on the environment.”

For my dissertation, I decided to take a slightly different route by looking at the cosmetic industry instead of focusing directly on the fashion world. During my second year internship placement, I had the opportunity to work as a buyer assistant in cosmetics and I found it really interesting. During this time I realized how much impact this industry has on the environment: which is why I thought it could be very interesting to do my research for the dissertation on How the cosmetic industry could switch to a more sustainable mentality. To follow along, I decided to implement the idea of sustainability not only in my dissertation, but also as part of my Final Major Project by developing a business plan for a brand of sustainable sunglasses made from recycled plastic. Although quite challenging, both these projects really motivated me to work harder in this final year at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy. Hopefully, future opportunities will enable me to work for brands/businesses that align with these values, giving me the chance to make my contribution and make any of these fashion-related industries more sustainable and ethical.

Martijn Maagdenberg

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“I researched the impact of the counterfeit industry on upcoming fashion brands.”

Having lived and travelled in many different countries, has given me the chance to experience a wide variety of cultures and people. Subsequently, it has had a tremendously large impact on my personal development, especially in terms of my perspectives on fashion. This, in combination with studying at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy, has led me to gain a substantial understanding of the potential within fashion in an all-round global aspect. For my dissertation, I researched the impact of the counterfeit industry on upcoming fashion brands, as this was a topic where no prior research had been done. This has given me both a greater insight and knowledge into the importance of protecting brands and the environment, which had led to my Final Major Project, an online selling platform for designer products revolving around the current circular economy and the authentication of goods. What’s next? The next chapter for me will start in Stockholm at the jewellery brand where I spent my internship during my second year. I will be working there as the Head of PR. In the coming years I hope to continue to develop my abilities and skills within the fashion PR and sales sector, to create a strong foundation of competences to eventually start my own business.

Avalon Olivier

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“Researching transparency in the fashion industry opened my eyes on what fashion actually is.”

Born and raised by Italian parents, I grew up in an environment all about design. The influence of my mother’s artistic ways helped me develop my interests in pursuing a future in the fashion business. Also having prior experience in fashion retail, I had noticed I wanted to know more about the behind-the-scenes of a brand. Intrigued by my curiosity, I stopped working for retail and decided to go back to university and get my bachelor’s in Fashion Business. My favourite subjects are branding and marketing: while being in the strategic and management side of fashion, they still gave me the space to be mentally creative. Coming up with brand strategies did help me a lot even with starting my own small swimwear brand called Amore Mare. While studying at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy, I discovered I had more interests in the fashion industry, mainly concerning the change of demographic in business aspects such as sustainability and social responsibility, which are big factors nowadays. Therefore, researching transparency in the fashion industry opened my eyes in a completely different way on what fashion actually is, letting me understand how fashion affects our society and environment. Working in Amsterdam in marketing, branding or public relations will be just the start of lots of new and exciting experiences.

Francesca Pizziolo

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“I would like to continue my career as a fashion entrepreneur, with the dream of having my own brand.”

I would like to continue my career as a fashion entrepreneur, with the dream of having my own brand one day: fashion has always been more than an influence in my life, it is a real part of who I am today. During my third year at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy I had the opportunity to work on my final academic assignments: my dissertation about the influence of social media on streetwear trends, and my Final Major Project, an app about fashion, trends, politics and local news to share opinions of the younger and older generations in my country of birth, Curaçao.

Robin Uittenbogert

Fashion Business BA (Hons)

“I focussed on the creation of an app to swap pre-owned bags and small accessories.”

“Understanding that fashion expresses who you are as a person, made me realize that studying fashion was the right path to take and get a deep insight into the fashion world. Why do we dress the way we dress? Is there a reason we feel like we need to dress a certain way? These questions made me realize that studying fashion was the best possible option. The Final Major Project has given me the opportunity to show both my creative and business skills. Due to my interests in exclusive and luxury brands I decided to focus on these fashion sectors for my Final Major Project: the creation of an app to swap pre-owned bags and small accessories. The swap app will be designed to swap your item with an item similar to yours, comparing price, quality, condition/damage and even original packaging status. The idea of swapping came to add a future life to pre-owned pieces, without necessarily involving a proper sale: why would you want to sell your bag? Maybe it is better to find some other luxury brand lover like you, to swap your accessories and get something you love in return! While working on the development of my business idea, I hope I will get some more experience in the fashion business world, to start following my dreams and become a renowned fashion event planner.”

Myrthe van der Leden

Fashion with Textiles Design BA (Hons)

“During my studies here I discovered the style of design I wanted to stick with.”

Since I was a very young girl, I knew I wanted to do something in the fashion world. When I graduated from high school, I moved to Amsterdam to pursue my dream to learn how to design and sew all those beautiful garments I imagined in my mind. During my education at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy I discovered the style of design I wanted to stick with and looked forward to my Final Major Project to finally design 100% what I liked. For my collection and my dissertation I took inspiration from the dictatorship of North Korea: researching this country has proved very interesting and enriching. Furthermore, the visual inspiration for the collection derives from South Korean rapper G-Dragon, specifically from his music video Coup d’état. I used fabrics like fake leather and thick wool felt to resemble the feel of the dictatorship and to make a modern version of the “military chic” look. After graduating from the Amsterdam Fashion Academy, I will be studying my master’s degree, to learn even more and build a stronger portfolio before I get a job… or maybe even start my own brand!

Lene Vindenes

Fashion Business Design BA (Hons)

“I believe that Corporate Social Responsibility is a topic all companies will need to have a strong focus on in the near future.”

I have always been intrigued by the fashion industry, by the business as well as the creative aspects of it. After learning more about the different aspects of the fashion industry during my third and final year at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy, my interests have shifted towards the sustainable and ethical sides of the industry. Therefore, I have decided that my final projects (dissertation and final major project) will have a strong focus on sustainability and ethics within the fashion world: these are topics that are really close to my heart and values. For my final major project I chose to engage on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), creating a consultancy service agency that will focus on helping companies in the development of their CSR policies and processes, as well as specializing in block chain technology within the supply chain in the fashion world. I believe that CSR is a topic all companies will need to have a strong focus on in the near future (not only in the fashion industry but in all industries), to be able to be aware of the impact they have on both people and environment. The Final Major Project has lead me to the development of a business plan that hopefully will help me set my idea into life in the future. But first… I can’t wait to start working and gain more experience and a network in the fashion industry!

Isabelle Wildenburg

Fashion with Textiles Design BA (Hons)

“I’m moving to Dubai to further develop my brand D1RT “

Ever since I was very young I was unknowingly obsessed with fashion. This started with making clothes for my teddy bear out of waste paper. After high school I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and luckily I got the opportunity to study at the Amsterdam Fashion Academy. When I finished my first year, all my hard work paid off, and I was contacted by Karl Lagerfeld HQ in Amsterdam. In my second year I was determined to gain work experience in New York, so I arranged an internship at Anna Sui HQ. All this knowledge and skills were a major asset in designing my own collection Sport Couture, made entirely out of recycled sports items, for my brand D1RT. Since its creation, Sport Couture has been a great success, paving the road to show my collection during Paris Fashion Week 2019. Furthermore, the humanitarian organization War Child recently contacted me to design and realise a custom-made jumpsuit for one of their auctions: an incredible honour to be a part of such an incredible project! After graduation I am moving to Dubai, a city that has felt like my second home for many years, to evolve my brand further. The definition of D1RT is obviously “dirt”, but it is also slang for “money”: my goal is to turn dirt into money, recycling used materials to create my collections. I think designers should pay attention to the way they use and hopefully reuse materials. Do you share this vision and want to collaborate? Let’s work together on some amazing projects!