DESIGNER DIARY

d-day

If you are reading this, the models of Claes Iversen are eagerly waiting in the wings. The master himself takes you to the last minutes of his show…

‘The days fly by and suddenly the day of the show is very close. It’s always the same surprise! But on the other hand, you are also ready for it.’

The final touches are being made to one of the couture dresses

The Puzzle: Timing, running order, 3/4 size…

‘It is definitely the finishing phase: Not only does the collection really need to be completed and the couture needs to be wearable, but the final looks also need to be ready and in the exact order they will be shown during the show.

It’s a puzzle between models, the time they need to change, and having the right shoes in the right size ready. And then it also needs to be precisely determined when what happens during the show.

The timing of all the components in the show affects the music, the film in the background, the lighting, the sound, and any other effects or surprises. Everything is planned and recorded as carefully as possible, but it remains a matter of doing 100 things at once.’

Handwork, handwork, handwork…

Packing

‘It always feels a bit like moving. Half of the workshop goes along when we are going to present a new collection. The time when everything fit into two cars is a thing of the past.

Nowadays, a few vans need to be rented to transport the collection. By the way, I have stopped discussing with Toon (head of the workshop) whether the very large, awkward, and difficult-to-transport steam iron really needs to come along. Apparently, it does.

Furthermore, there are boxes with shoes and accessories that wouldn’t even fit in a normal car. In storage, there are already packed suitcases and boxes that are always ready with the items you need during a show. The suitcases are supplemented according to a checklist with all the supplies and tools from the workshop. Never forget, because your ideal instrument in an emergency: glue and a stapler! You understand that this is Toon’s big annoyance…’

Even more meters of tulle under the sewing machine

The last evening

‘The last day is always such a thing. Then there is simply no tomorrow to work in the workshop. This day MUST be finished! And it always is. Sometimes surprisingly early, but we always know it will definitely last into the evening hours, so having dinner together on the last evening is a fixed and unchanging tradition. We will do that again this time.’

‘If you are also curious about what this will be tonight, you can see the result during the AFW show.’