Frans Molenaar Fashion Competition 2017

Posted on 05/11/2017 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Frans Molenaar Fashion Competition 2017

The annual Frans Molenaar Fashion competition show was held at The Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam on friday November the 3rd, 2017. This was already the 22th edition, and Mimi Blogger Team attended this lovely, intimate show. Collections were shown by Ninamounah Langestraat, Boris Kollar, and Chelsea Peterson, who graduated this year at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Victor Klijsen and Leroy van Halen graduated at ArtEZ Arnhem and Lotte van Dijk, who became a Master in fashion ArtEZ Arnhem.

Backstage prepping

Showtime; Chelsea Peterson

Showtime; Victor Klijsen

Showtime; Victor Klijsen

Showtime; Ninamounah Langestraat

Showtime; Leroy van Halen

Showtime; Boris Kollar

Showtime; Lotte van Dijk

Ninamounah Langestraat and Boris Kollar

Winning Collection by Boris Kollar backstage

Ninamounah Langestraat and Boris Kollar

Winning Collection by Ninamounah Langestraat backstage

This is Frans Molenaar

Chelsea Peterson backstage

Lotte van Dijk backstage

Leroy van Halen backstage

Viktor Klijssen backstage

And the winners are: Ninamounah Langestraat and Boris Kollar! A shared first place for these youngsters from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie! (They both won €7500,-) Gongratulations!

clickey click to see Mimi Berlin Partysnaps! “this is how we do it”

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Dutch Award Show: Frans Molenaar Prize 2015

Posted on 15/07/2015 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Dutch Award Show: Frans Molenaar Prize 2015

Yesterday we went to see the Award show brought to life by Dutch couturier Frans Molenaar. It was the 20th edition and it was the first time without the couturier himself being present. Mr Molenaar sadly and unexpectactly passed away in the Winter of last year, but he made sure his award-show can continue for years to come. Host and member of the jury Jhim Lamoree asked the audience to stand up and remember Frans Molenaar before the show.

remembering Frans Molenaar

Jhim Lamoree, host and jury member

Mirjam Bax, assistant and right hand to Frans Molenaar for 21 years

Karin Vlug

Simeon Morris

Lilian Admiraal

Josephine Goverts

Maartje Janse

Tung Trinh

Max Zara Sterck

Sunanda Koning

Josephine Goverts

The show was held at the house/studio of Mr Molenaar in Amsterdam, it was opened by Karin Vlug‘s collection, made with the prize money she won last year. Her collection has a tight, thoroughly researched (with José Theunisen) concept. This strict concept remains visible in the garments, but at the same time the concept doesn’t overrule the wearability of Karin’s couture capsule collection. Karin’s work becomes more wearable every year. (read about that concept HERE)

Participants Frans Molenaar Prize 2015; Tung Trinh, Josephine Goverts, Max Zara Sterck, Maartje Janse, Lilian Admiraal (all BA graduates’15 <click link for more info on these designers) and Sunanda Koning (MA ’15) All graduated this year at ArtEZ fashion design, Arnhem. Simeon Morris finished his fashion masters at ArtEZ in 2013. Simeon is the most experienced designer of the group his “experience includes working for a number of renowned designers, including Alexander McQueen in the late 90’s and Hussein Chalayan, amongst others.” (quoted)

After the longest deliberation ever in “Frans-Molenaar-Prize-History” the jury named Josephine Goverts the winner of the Frans Molenaar Prize 2015. She got a well deserved big fat check (see picturesabove) of €10.000. Next year, same time, at an other place, we will get to see what she accomplished with her reward! Continue reading →

Frans Molenaar has Passed Away

Posted on 13/01/2015 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Frans Molenaar has Passed Away

Frans Molenaar posing in front of one of his dresses from the seventies. (photo taken in 2011 at The GemeenteMuseum in The Hague)

On January 9, 2015, Dutch couturier Frans Molenaar has passed away at the age of 74. Frans Molenaar was the last of the “old school” generation of Dutch couturiers.

Many, many moons ago Mr Molenaar was one of Mimi Berlin’s first cliënts.
We will always remember Mr Molenaar both for his designs and his personality, also for giving us a break when we were starting out in fashion design.

Read about Frans Molenaar on this blog

Winner of The Frans Molenaar Couture Award 2014

Posted on 25/06/2014 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Winner of The Frans Molenaar Couture Award 2014

Winner of The Frans Molenaar Award 2014 is ArtEZ Fashion Design BA graduate Karin Vlug, She won this Wednesday, June 25th 2014, and received the amount of €10.000,- to invest in a new couture collection which she will present next year at the 2015 edition of this Award. Congratulations!! (about: Frans Molenaar is a Dutch couturier)

*We have to be honest; sadly we couldn’t attend this show ourselves because of other work obligations elsewhere. Our seat won’t be empty next year!

*We have to be honest; sadly we couldn’t attend this show ourselves because of other work obligations elsewhere. photo:Ruud van der Peijl

Winner of The Frans Molenaar Couture Award

photo; Matthijs Boelee

“One Square fits all” collection by Karin Vlug. photo by louis e tepoele

Couture in The Netherlands

Posted on 03/08/2013 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

The Netherlands is a very small country, it’s also a Kingdom. like each of this kind of counries they have couturiers, not many but they are there. Two of the most known are Frank Govers and Frans Molenaar. Inez van Lamsweerde portrayed their clothes in an editorial for Modus Magazine 1990

Frank Govers – photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde for MODUS 1990 – styling by Stephanie Gude, hair by Martin Wentzel, make-up by Joyce Thé. (taken from MODUS)

Frank Govers – photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde for MODUS 1990 – styling by Stephanie Gude, hair by Martin Wentzel, make-up by Joyce Thé.

Frans Molenaar – photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde for MODUS 1990 styling by Stephanie Gude, hair by Martin Wentzel, make-up by Joyce Thé. (taken from MODUS)

Frans Molenaar – photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde for MODUS. Styling by Stephanie Gude, Hair by Martin Wentzel, Make-up by Joyce Thé (images taken from MODUS edited by Pauline Terreehorst. Published by de Balie Uitg., 1990. ISBN 9066170751, 9789066170759)

Frans Molenaar Couture Award 2013

Posted on 11/07/2013 by Mimi Berlin Amsterdam

Since 1996 Dutch Couturier Frans Molenaar presents an award for the best fashion designer of the year. The reason for creating this yearly event simply is that he wants to help new talent, just like he had help when he started out, so he told us.

ArtEZ Fashion Design BA ’13 graduate Liselore Frowijn won the Frans Molenaar Couture Award 2013 and prize money of €10.000,- to invest in a new couture collection which she’ll present next year at the 2014 issue of this Award. We feel that was well deserved!

Frans Molenaar and Jim Lamoree present the cheque to Liselore Frowijn.

Jim Lamoree, art historicus and speaker at the Frans Molenaar Couture award show

Peet Dullaert winner the Frans Molenaar Award 2012

Peet Dullaert winner of the Frans Molenaar Award 2012

Lous Geerlings, model, Frans Molenaar

Pieter Eliens, contestant

Part of the jury in red Lous Geerlings and Ruud van der Peijl

Joris Suk, contestant

Part of the jury, Jose Theunissen and Milou van Rossum

One Love, contestants

Roos van Woudeberg, contestant

Roderick Buijs, contestant

Roderick Buijs, contestant, up close

waiting for the jury to decide

Liselore Frowijn winner of the Frans Molenaar Award 2013

Liselore Frowijn gets kisses from her fellow students

Fin…vacuumcleaner at work..

Out of the six contestants four graduated at ArtEZ Arnhem, we have seen those collections previously in an immense old building. Liselore’s collection was the only one with the same vibe, same message, fabulous fabric development and really perfect workmanship when presented up close in the petite and very intimate salon of the couturier. Joris Suk took the opportunity to spice his presention up, his collection was accompanied by an a-tonal singer making (live) music with a plastic lettuce dryer. We also really fancied the collection by Joshua Enker, graduated at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, which was inspired by Miss Marple, WOW he developed metal, shiny fabrics, and moulded a twinset like silhouette into wonderful shapes for men and women: Miss Marple in Space…. Winner of last year, Peet Dullaert showed a small collection of women’s wear to start of the show. All together it was a joy to watch this show!!

Want some after show “this is how we do it” pictures? CLICKKKKK