Is it possible to live in a world without traditional gender codes? ‘Gender’ is this year’s theme of the fashion gathering in the Netherlands’ Maastricht. The 7th edition of the Fashionclash festival aims to break down the concept of gender referring to sociocultural implications defining our biological sex – the roles that differentiate between masculinity and femininity, our prescribed identities as well as create confusion, push a variety of identities and free us from boxes restraining us.

As every year, promising new designers and artists get interdisciplinary exposure, whether this be in the form of an exhibition, a designer’s market at the SAMdecorfabriek or a classic catwalk presentation. Fashionclash would like to invite you to discover the uniqueness of the human character and celebrate the art of the clothes we wear. The first day this was achieved by several designers, who clearly put some thought into how to express their opinions of, frustrations by or questions about the gender debate.

Noticeable was menswear designer Inês Duvale, whom I know from her show at Moda Lisboa’s Sangue Novo (Young Blood), with her bold word ‘DREAMERS’, ‘BOOKS NOT GUNS’ or ‘CULTURE NOT VIOLENCE’ written, knitted and printed en large on her rather dark and furry pieces that were lifted into sci-fi appeal with mega shades.

I also liked Linda Friesen, who felt like doing something beige only after having done a Hello Kitty collection with all the pink that comes with the name. Very structured and architectural, it was a bit McQueen and a bit Iris van Herpen, but well executed and in the form of an accomplished collection.

More to come about the gender fashion celebrations soon – watch this space.

NoéMie Schwaller