by Sara Bertoni

Amsterdam International Fashion Week, the home of Dutch fashion was finaly back last week !! Over 100 designers took their latest looks to the catwalk ! Amsterdam is realy growing as a Fashion Business Capital. Trade Fairs Showroom and Mode Fabriek attract over 20.000 professional buyers from Holland and abroad. .

Amsterdam International Fashion Week was founded in 2004, as an initiative to put Amsterdam on the map as a vibrant and inspiring destination for fashion.

The program last for over 10 days and consisted of trade fairs, catwalk shows (a combinantion of on- schedule shows at Museumplein and off-schedule events around town), business network events and a public programme of exhibitions, launches and parties.

Amsterdam Fashion Week is organized by AIFW, consisting of Merle Deterink, Pietre de Haan, Steven Pooters and James Veenhoff, supported by internes and in close cooperation with sponsors, government, instituitions, industry partners and media.

AIFW presents both mens and womens, as well as couture, ready to wear and streetwear collections. As well as the home of Dutch fashion, Amsterdam aims to become an international platform for new luxury brands, breakthrough talent and commercial success.

This year new venue in the center of Amsterdam, Museumplein with 4 tents, inspired by New York Fashion Week’s “Bryan Park” set up. There are two catwalk venues. “TENT” with a capacity for about 600 seated guests, and the more intimate SALON , all in white, that holds aeround 300. The move to Museumplein was co-funded by the City of Amsterdam’s Evenemenfonds and the Ministry of Economic Affaire Pieken in de Delta program, as well as the sponsor partners Fortis, Philips, KPN Mobile, LG, Lancome and Redken.