INTERVIEW: BAS KOSTERS talks to FILEP MOTWARY
Bas Kosters hit the fashion scene in 2003, when he won a prestigious Dutch design award. With his eccentric collection, 'Two teacups and a frying pan', Kosters (whose style cross-pollinates fashion, cool design, vintage clothes, colourful illustrative prints and extrovert performances) has become Holland's fashion darling. Since then, a lot of other interesting things happened to BAS..Among other things he participated in a project in collaboration with Dior with Avant Garde magazine, for the 10 years after the death of Princess Diana , got the carte blance for selling his clothes at Maria Luisa in Paris, saw his work exhibited at Musee Galliera of Paris, participated in the workshop of Benakis Museum in Athens for the exhibition RRRIP/PAPER FASHION and also stood on the podium as a lector of the Fashion Institute in Arnhem...Want more?
FilepMotwary: Where is Dutch Fashion at the moment? How many are the designers that make The Netherlands a proud country BasKosters: I am in the middle of the Dutch fashion scene and know a lot of people so this makes me feel alive and active. Dutch fashion is really alive. A lot of brands are working hard to get their work out and a few labels are doing quite well...Dutch designers are all over the world at this moment and the design style is getting more diverse and vibrant
FilepMotwary: The Dutch and Belgian Fashion practically started at the same time in the 1980's. Why is the Belgian scene in a better status compared to The Dutch?BasKosters: I am very curious on what you base this statement, the Dutch fashion industry is just very different from the Belgium, maybe in Belgium the designers from that time are established now, in Holland a lot of more commercial brands are very successful.
FilepMotwary: Lately we see designers getting involved in multi projects, other than fashion. Like yourself: you are a designer, a member of a rock band, a DJ and you also design puppets. Can you please explain?BasKosters: I can only explain my own motivations: I was always interested in dolls and music. For me these are perfect supplements for my fashion work, the enrichment and the character of the studio; also graphics painting illustrations are amongst my interest. All these things make up my brand identity. Maybe fashion alone isn't enough?
FilepMotwary: Your work is a blossom of colour and ideas. So many ideas that one might say it are confusing. Do you agree?BasKosters: No, of course not! I try to lead it all into nice and clear packages of information and place my work in structures; no idea will just stand all on its own. I think this combination of stories and dimensions gives character to my studio.
FilepMotwary: You tattooed your name on your hand. Do you love yourself?BasKosters: Yes I absolutely do. It is the ultimate brand management this tattoo. I take a lot of self-portraits, whith which I would like to do a project once; also I make self-portraits in my work and also transfer my personality in the dolls I create...I guess I am a big inspiration to myself, for myself (LAUGHS)
FilepMotwary: Where do you see fashion's future? BasKosters:I don't think a lot about that , people will always have to dress themselves. Ii am not all day thinking to where the industry will go. I feel it will evolve gradually as we keep on working .Certainly it is our generation, yours and mine, who can change the normal standards.
FilepMotwary: Your future plans?BasKosters: I would love to have my own boutique, make more collections, and make movies maybe, more music and fun and so on.
FilepMotwary: Thank you Bas
The Bas Kosters interview is part of ISTEROGRAFO FASHION ISSUE 4 , coming out this Sunday, May 25 All rights reserved.
FilepMotwary: Where is Dutch Fashion at the moment? How many are the designers that make The Netherlands a proud country BasKosters: I am in the middle of the Dutch fashion scene and know a lot of people so this makes me feel alive and active. Dutch fashion is really alive. A lot of brands are working hard to get their work out and a few labels are doing quite well...Dutch designers are all over the world at this moment and the design style is getting more diverse and vibrant
FilepMotwary: The Dutch and Belgian Fashion practically started at the same time in the 1980's. Why is the Belgian scene in a better status compared to The Dutch?BasKosters: I am very curious on what you base this statement, the Dutch fashion industry is just very different from the Belgium, maybe in Belgium the designers from that time are established now, in Holland a lot of more commercial brands are very successful.
FilepMotwary: Lately we see designers getting involved in multi projects, other than fashion. Like yourself: you are a designer, a member of a rock band, a DJ and you also design puppets. Can you please explain?BasKosters: I can only explain my own motivations: I was always interested in dolls and music. For me these are perfect supplements for my fashion work, the enrichment and the character of the studio; also graphics painting illustrations are amongst my interest. All these things make up my brand identity. Maybe fashion alone isn't enough?FilepMotwary: Your work is a blossom of colour and ideas. So many ideas that one might say it are confusing. Do you agree?BasKosters: No, of course not! I try to lead it all into nice and clear packages of information and place my work in structures; no idea will just stand all on its own. I think this combination of stories and dimensions gives character to my studio.FilepMotwary: You tattooed your name on your hand. Do you love yourself?BasKosters: Yes I absolutely do. It is the ultimate brand management this tattoo. I take a lot of self-portraits, whith which I would like to do a project once; also I make self-portraits in my work and also transfer my personality in the dolls I create...I guess I am a big inspiration to myself, for myself (LAUGHS)FilepMotwary: Where do you see fashion's future? BasKosters:I don't think a lot about that , people will always have to dress themselves. Ii am not all day thinking to where the industry will go. I feel it will evolve gradually as we keep on working .Certainly it is our generation, yours and mine, who can change the normal standards.FilepMotwary: Your future plans?BasKosters: I would love to have my own boutique, make more collections, and make movies maybe, more music and fun and so on.
FilepMotwary: Thank you Bas
The Bas Kosters interview is part of ISTEROGRAFO FASHION ISSUE 4 , coming out this Sunday, May 25 All rights reserved.
