VIKTOR&ROLF

CONSCIOUS DESIGN

Vagabonds Marijke Aerden Editorial 2

Conscious Design: Creative Principle

After several Haute Couture seasons of exploring elements of recycling and upcycling, Viktor&Rolf have put forward their vision of conscious design: to make more of less. Creating a surreal paradox that underlines the beauty of imperfection and highlights the creative principle of conscious design for meaningful creation.

This conscious approach to design has been extended to their luxury products and brand collaborations.

Fashion artists Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren are rooting for a world that is creative, diverse, and eco-conscious.

Look 04 V R HCFW16 Lauren

VIKTOR&ROLF HAUTE COUTURE AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 - VAGABONDS

Starting from scratch, fashion artists Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren use mementoes from a multitude of past collections as a basis for their new creations. Fabrics are torn, mixed up and woven by hand to create new voluminous shapes and textures. Vintage pieces, including items from Viktor&Rolf's own archive, are used as a starting point for elaborately decorated garments. Embroideries consist of dense, organic mixtures of repurposed buttons, beads and crystals.

The Boulevard of Broken Dreams Look 20

VIKTOR&ROLF HAUTE COUTURE SPRING/SUMMER 2017 - BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS

Existing dresses – oftentimes damaged, with visible signs of wear, are taken apart. Their fragments are pieced back together as surreal collages, restoring their components into new ensembles with unexpected shapes. Repairs are accentuated with gold according to Kintsugi, a principle of Japanese pottery in which beauty arises from imperfection. The focus is placed on finding value in missing pieces, cracks and chips – bringing to light the scars that come from life experiences. Acknowledging the beauty of imperfection is a positive reinforcement, which ultimately renders the original into something more beautiful and more valuable, essentially transforming the imperfect into a thing of beauty.

Spiritual Glamour Look 20

VIKTOR&ROLF HAUTE COUTURE AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 - SPIRITUAL GLAMOUR

With the original meaning of the word ‘Glamour’ refers to that of a magic spell, an illusion said to be cast by witches. In this case, the spell is cast to transform a general feeling of doom about the environment into positive action.

Patchworks LOOK18

VIKTOR&ROLF HAUTE COUTURE SPRING/SUMMER 2020 - PATCHWORKS

Having nearly exhausted their stock on their previous upcycling couture shows, Viktor&Rolf turned to their archive of fabric samples: tiny pieces of fabric, sent to the House throughout the years for consideration during the development process of their collections. From this archive, Viktor&Rolf selected some of the most luxurious fabric samples that, patched together, make up this collection.