6x Eindhoven streetwear
Looking for fashion in the streets of Eindhoven is an exercise in looking closely. The first sight is that of a no-nonsense style. Above all, it has to be comfortable. Or, as a Flemish passerby puts it: 'You wear the first thing you find in your closet.' But if you take a little longer, there's more to discover.
We went out and talked to people in the streets of Eindhoven about what fashion means to them and stumbled upon some great stories. Read along and judge for yourself: is there such a thing as the Eindhoven style?
Jaimy
Nieuwe Emmasingel
'The waist bag is made by Steven Blanco, an Eindhoven-based artist. He sponsors my hip-hop crew with clothing. Next month we will go to Blackpool in England for the World Hip Hop Championships. I dance at Cardo in Veldhoven. When I dance, my clothes have to be comfortable. What is my style like otherwise? I think I always choose something slightly different from what others wear. Usually, I buy my clothes at Stradivarius, Bershka, and Subdued in Amsterdam.'
Marcia
18 Septemberplein
'My father is Italian, and my mother is from the Dominican Republic. That's where I was born, too, in the capital Santo Domingo. Fifteen years ago, I came to Eindhoven for love. For me, it is the most beautiful city in the world. My style? Spanish, I think. I love bling-bling. I like to shop at Primark and, in the past, at Coolcat. I never buy clothes on the street market, because you know you can throw them away after washing them once. Even in this warm weather, I like to wear something with long sleeves and a cap.'
Fons, Guillaume en Cas
Nieuwe Emmasingel
'The further south you go, the more beautiful people are dressed.' For Fonn and Guillaume, both from Maaseik in Belgium, Eindhoven is a city in the far north. 'The style of the people of Eindhoven is a bit messy. Whatever comes out of your closet first is what you wear. Yet we always like to come here. Eindhoven is great for shopping. Nice and compact, everything is within close distance. From large chains to small shops. Today we're on the hunt for a nice sweater with Homer Simpson on it for Cas.'
Alicia
Lichtplein
'Last year, I graduated from the Art Academy in Arnhem on a fashion project to make new textiles from waste plastic. I made designs for jackets and other clothing items from the new material, but it was mainly about making people look differently at waste. Now I'm working with Dave Hakkens on the project's next step. We want to show the first results during the Dutch Design Week in October. His Precious Plastic project is a great initiative that has led to creating an entire community. The cooperation is based on board and lodging. Every day three vegan chefs prepare a delicious meal for us. I also work in the TextielLab of the Design Academy Eindhoven.'
Thierry
Emmasingel
'Fashion is trying stuff that has never been tried before. For me, that's the essence, playing with clothes and making new combinations. My roots are in Congo; dressing beautifully and eccentrically is part of the culture. I see fashion as a form of art. Even shopping is something I prepare for. I know in advance exactly what I want.'
Jaimy en Laura
Stationsplein
Yeezy, Vans, Lotto, Santa Cruz, Fila, Lacoste, Huf, North Face, is the best summary of Jaimy's and Laura's wardrobe. 'We shop at Snipes and JD, but also at H&M, C&A and sometimes at the Bijenkorf. Actually, our clothing is quite basic, very eccentric doesn't really suit us. We bought our skateboards online from Skatedelux. The wheels are from 100% Skateboard shop in Eindhoven.'
