Lisa Konno is artist in residence at WOW and from January she shows her womenswear collection that she designed for the fashion label Afriek.
Earlier this year she enjoyed a stunning debute with her “For the Workers” show during the Amsterdam Fashion Week. With her work she aims to create awareness about the circumstances in the fast fashion industry and to contribute to ideas on how to create fashion in a socially and environmentally sustainable way.
Last spring Lisa travelled with Afriek to Rwanda to create the Afriek womenswear collection with their tailors in Rwanda. Lisa combined the colourful fabrics from local African markets with the strict lines you see in Western womenswear nowadays. The fabrics used are bought in Kampala, Uganda, and are all sourced from West Africa. As these fabrics are so beautiful but also scarce, this first collection will be small, with no more than 20 pieces made in one print.
AFRIEK: A STORY THAT SUITS
Sivan Breemhaar and Kars Gerrits founded Afriek in 2013. Through making beautiful garments in a socially responsible way, their aim is to promote a positive and more objective image of Africa.
Nowadays the stories behind your clothing are better left untold. In contrast to fast fashion brands, Afriek is proud to share their story. They create an inspiring collection of hand-tailored garments. Designed in the Netherlands and handmade in Rwanda by talented tailors who manufacture one product from beginning to end.
This way of working allows them to modernise values such as craftsmanship and tradition. Combining Western design with African culture, Afriek builds a bridge between two seemingly different cultures, with the aim of uniting bright individuals across the globe.
Setting
The Green Gallery at WOW offers an unusual environment for modern art and fashion and thus provides an exciting challenge for the designer of the space and the artist.
Opening
For more information check our Facebook event.
Runs from 7 January through 13 March 2015. Free entry. Open every day from 10 am until 6 pm.
Designer’s website www.lisakonno.com
Photo: Ester Grass Vergara.