ROTTERDAM, 28 March 2023 – 'A different kind of fashion exhibition'. Workwear opened with a spectacular fashion show at the Nieuwe Instituut.
Workwear opened at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam last weekend. The exhibition by curator Eldina Begic pays tribute to workwear; once intended to protect wearers during hard work, but nowadays unimaginable from the streets or the catwalk. The festive opening on Saturday evening also featured a unique fashion show put together by designer Ninamounah.
Functional workwear
At the Nieuwe Instituut's Workwear exhibition, visitors dive into the world of functional workwear. Curator Eldina Begic selected dozens of vintage classics, current looks and futuristic experiments from all over the world. They show the beauty of functionality, but also demonstrate that workwear exudes solidarity and equality and served as inspiration for countless artists and fashion designers worldwide. They are creations we see today both on the catwalk and in everyone's wardrobe.
Two Rotterdammers also created new works especially for the exhibition, exploring the future of workwear. Designer Sam Cruden of custom jeans brand C.Cruden created an installation focusing on the life cycle of jeans. Spoken word artist Elten Kiene wrote a workwear manifesto for this exhibition, which he recites on a video screen.
Workwear exhibition at Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam
Opening with a unique fashion show and party
For the festive opening on Saturday evening, the Nieuwe Instituut transformed the arcade behind the building into a huge catwalk. Here, for some 300 visitors, the fashion show Wearwork took place, which designer Ninamounah of the eponymous fashion label put together for the occasion. Up-and-coming labels Hardeman, Kaam Kari LA, Schepers Bosman, Das Leben am Haverkamp, HEH, Pablo Salvador Willemars and Camiel Fortgens designed their own interpretations of workwear especially for the fashion show.
After the fashion show, the Nieuwe Instituut's exhibition was open for all to see for the first time, followed by a party in the Nieuwe Café where Elten Kiene recited his workwear manifesto live and Sam Cruden took place behind the turntables.
The Workwear exhibition can be visited in Gallery 2 of the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam until 10 September 2023.
