- Utrecht School of the Arts
- SUMMARY
History
The course was started up in the third quarter of the 20th century by Tatja Boomsma, with a strong subject-oriented signature. This changed when Hans van Kooten took over as head of the department. Hans, himself a former student of the fashion department, saw the importance of free experimentation and placed the emphasis on a more conceptual approach. The slogan ‘integrate the discovery into a subject-oriented framework’ came into being and is actually still relevant today. After Hans van Kooten, Mascha van Zijverden led the course for a number of years and now it is my turn. I have worked here since 1984, have been interim several times and now I am here ‘for real’.
Vision
Our vision is determined by two aspects. The first is that we are positioned geographically but also in terms of content ‘in the middle’. So there is an alliance between experimentation and wearability, not one or the other. And second: we started up the final specialization Fashion Communication a number of years ago and that is beginning to bear fruit now. This specialization means that the Design route will also need to present itself more strongly. We are in the middle of that process at the moment.
Signature
Fashion Communication: developing concepts for many types of communication on various fronts in the fashion industry. In addition, we try to form students in such a way that they act ethically and come into their own right as a person and not just a fashion machine. No pushing and shoving their way to the top! For Lichting, we don’t necessarily select ‘the best of the best’; we are more interested in diversity in both the ‘look’ of the collection and the student’s way of working. The last thing we want to do is cultivate little imitators.
Piece of Advice
Seek out your own niche; continue to develop. Personally I find it important not to become distorted. I see too many fashion eunuchs around me: their profession makes them suitable only for the fashion harem, they seem to have no existence outside that. We build up a network with our alumni as well: in that way we can do something for each other. The advice continues on.
Lichting
Showing the quality and diversity of the talent in fashion courses in the Netherlands. Promoting this talent internationally would also be an interesting perspective. That happens already to some extent, particularly in Europe. It is naturally an interesting region; there is no need for us to go to China right away.
“Lichting is the most prestigious platform in the Netherlands for new talent.”
W.M.P. Ewals
Principal lecturer BA Fashion Design
