01/04/2026
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
The first thing I do when I want to get inspired is visit the past. I've always been inspired by all different sorts of designers. And fashion and mixed media artists always touch my heart.
At a young age I was captured by versatile designer Fong Leng (1937). Her use of color, and the way she totally neglected what was 'appropriate' to design at the time in our little conservative country was fascinating. 'Rebel' doesn't cut it, she was quite the revelation :)
She was born in Rotterdam and had a Chinese father and Dutch mother. I come from a little town near Rotterdam, and I'm from Dutch East Indies and Chinese descent. So this was quite a role model when I grew up.
The materials she uses for her creations are leather, suede, silk, marabou feathers, and fur. She uses techniques like application, quilting, matelassรฉ, smocking and pleating. I saw a beautiful photo of a very young Kate Bush wearing one of her pieces.
She didn't restrict herself to only designing clothes, but also created furniture (with designer Jan de Bouvrie), and intricate mixed media wall pieces. So inspirational.
So happy to have visited this beautiful expo in the lovely Museum Jan in Amstelveen (April 6 will be the last day to see this expo). Thank you for organizing!
And how wonderful: there will be a sample sale on April 3 & 4 (broches, merchandise, outfits). If you can, go see this amazing part of Dutch design history!