A Day in the Life of a Sustainable Slow Fashion Designer

A model example of sustainable fashion design. Jan Jan Van Essche tells us how he designs open patterns to make outstanding slow made clothes.

Special thanks to VisitFlanders, the MoMu, and the city of Antwerp for making this video possible.
#VisitFlanders #MoMuAntwerp #Fashion2022Antwerp

[cybrself]

In Japan, when discussing the Kimono, a word exists that is used to describe the space between body and textile: 'Ma'. It contests that there is a certain beauty in this interplay, and that the 'natural' draping of the kimono is elegant, framing the body with unrestricted potential. It's amazing seeing these ideas translated globally, and it stands to reason that this form of fashion represents a new utopian ideal - both in its sustainability and its potential for expression.

[aimeeaztec]

Fascinating approach to garment construction: the clothes become apparent when worn and uniquely shaped by the owners body. Thanks bliss!

[MollyPorter]

I love love love this eastern-inspired zero waste clothing philosophy. It looks so good, so timeless, so futuristic, so non-binary. I really like how he emphasized that it lets you be yourself by showing your true shape. Eileen Fisher does a mainstream retail version of this look.

[LS-pecd]

Yess, pattern design is (in my opinion) the most defining part of the garment, yet most people are not aware of this process, or know the impact it makes. The amount of waste that comes from offcuts and scraps is baked in from the get go when talking about traditional western pattern cutting and layouts. With zero waste patterns, this eliminates a huge amount of waste by changing very little of the actual outcome. That is to say, most zero waste pattern garments typically are associated with loose, boxy or unconventional shapes, but it is possible to make suits, button down shirts, even swimsuits without waste on the cutting table.

[Indigololz]

A local boutique (Glasswing) carries Jan Jan van Essche, so I’ve had the pleasure of seeing part of his collection in person for a few years now. His clothes are always simple, beautifully made, with little hints of ingenuity (like the tube bottoms with a drawstring he showed in the video). Definitely check out his stuff if you have the chance!

[nathanaelwiebe]

That’s a very interesting way of making clothes, I do like how by taking such a simple design process he can take over every part of the process in house

[tamisrani]

Really insightful & interesting take on the how clothes can fit uniquely on people- reminds me of “your clothes are meant to fit you, you are not meant to fit into your clothes” (don’t think I’m phrasing this right so sorry if it’s confusing hahah). Thanks for sharing, Bliss! 😊
Edit: the white tubular garment reminds me of an item of clothing called Lungi. It’s often worn in South India by men and styled according their preference. Its so cool to see the openness in design!

[ym_yongmai]

This is super eye-opening for me! I sew clothes, just following patterns or sometimes draft them myself. I had this idea that patterns are complicated and precise, which is true. But when I saw the simplicity such as the example in this video, it put me to a new perspective. And I like the idea that the wearers shape the clothes.

[inkarlcerating]

Omg Bliss. I finally had time to concentrate and watch this. It’s 6am but you got me pumped up with all this fashion insights. Jan Jan was my fashion inspo when I was super into Antwerp fashion ( I still am)
The story abt the rectangle shirt is beautiful. Goes to show how a simplistic idea can propel a strong concept!

…and seeing you interview him after WVB! Mann i wouldn’t be surprised to see Ann Dem on the next or Dries.

[andreajaime]

The words that came to my mind as I watched him were fluid and organic.

[hellsguardillidan]

Learned about this stuff kind of in school. Look up ancient Greek clothing. It's basically the same thing. Cool to see it being done from a small designers viewpoint. This is kind of what a lot of other designers in the past and present have done or do.

[tenelezwane]

OMG i love his philosophy of design! I imagined that tubular piece to be a boob-tube dress for me! beautiful interview, Bliss Foster! The designer has such a light and airy vibe to him. his garment construction gives the clothes so many functions and yet its all dependant on the shape of the body and how the fabric moulds around you, not the other way around.

[rohanraju]

WOAH THIS IS A REAL SICK SURPRISE
in 2018 I was looking into the satyagraha play that they were asked to design the costumes for and I've been watching their work from the sidelines ever since, so I'm so goddamn happy you came through with this one 🤞

[genesis]

Amazing man. Truly has his own style. I see him every Sunday morning having breakfast at his favourite spot.

[Happinc]

Wow another great video Bliss! A very valuable philosophy, Yanyan’s “openness in design” is the ultimate in equality, it embraces all bodies at all ages & stages of life, as he says, giving the wearer and the fabrics their full value… his clothes will last a lifetime… I love it 🥰👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[RACHELLOVECOKE]

Essche’s white skirt is an exaggerated, altered version of (what I know to be) Thai fisherman pants. They are these extremely wide, tubular pants that are simple in construction; rectangular shapes and one waist tie. How he puts them on is how you would wear them too ie. either folding one side in and then the other over, or both sides in, tying, then rolling them down to the desired length. I actually own a pair from Thailand that cost between $2-10, but definitely not more(my mom bought them from me a long time ago) They’re one of my favourite pieces of clothing, so simple but so so cool and flattering. Don’t know what to make of this yet but I thought I’d share before I forgot, and would love to know people’s thoughts.

[ledadimarti]

Wonderful Bliss, I adore it so much. The quality of content is going up and up and up!
Congratulation dear friend!

[dinah-zpbc]

This is so beautiful and makes me very happy to see

[grapefruit]

fun drinking game: take a shot everytime Bliss says "mm"

[DayMakersLIVE]

One if my favorite creative directors out there. 👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽