One of VFS's newly announced Ones To Watch is the young Dutch designer Hellen van Rees, who's aesthetic is both striking and unique. With a BA in Fashion Design from the ArtEZ institute of the Arts in Arnhem, an MA in Fashion Womenswear from Central Saint Martins and internships under Giles Deacon and Iris Van Herpen, she is as educated in her field as she is experienced. The designer's A/W 12 collection, 'Square One: The Miracle of the Space Age' is a combination of the classic and the contemporary. Taking inspiration from the 1920's silhouette, tweed fabrics used by Chanel and 3D structures of various artists, the collection's pieces are sculptural and modern. Hellen Van Rees is truly experimental in her creations and using old fabrics or production factory remnants means her pieces are completely sustainable. With such a creative approach to silhouette and use of fabric, it's no wonder she's our One To Watch.
Editor Cass Gowing caught up with the newly named Ones to Watch designer:
How you feel to be chosen at VFS Ones to Watch?
I´m very excited to be part of VFS Ones to Watch! After graduating at CSM I knew I wanted to start my own label so it´s really great to have such a great venue to showcase my first independent collection and also to show along other designers who are in this stage.
What does this opportunity mean to you?
It´s good to to get this kind of confirmation that I´m doing the right thing to start my own label! Also after graduating there´s so much still to learn, about having a business, etc. So it´s also good to know that Vauxhall gives all kinds of support and advice in case I have any questions.
Can you give us any exclusive hints to your SS13 collection?
That is the most exciting thing of it all, to be able to continue to develop new work. Spring summer will again feature handmade sustainable textiles. Cubes, lots of cubes. It will all be much lighter than the previous collection, but not less of a statement. A bit more variation... some tweed, some rubber, some glitter...
Text by Josh Walker, interview by Cass Gowing
Image1 from Hellen's AW12 collection, Images 2 and 3 - exclusive images of sample fabric and textiles.
Image1 from Hellen's AW12 collection, Images 2 and 3 - exclusive images of sample fabric and textiles.