Reconstruct are six Fashion Design graduates (2016)
Laura Aanen - Public & Private, Autonomous Practices
Zara Asmail - Public & Private, Autonomous Practices
Alyssa Groeneveld - Public & Private, Autonomous Practices
Kim Kivits - New Frontiers, Commercial Practices
Michelle Lievaart - Digital Craft, Autonomous Practices
Sanne Verkleij - Digital Craft, Autonomous Practices
Are you inspired by the same thing? / Six peas in a pod or completely different?
We are six completely different females, all with a very strong willpower and vision. The combination of six diverse personalities is what makes us unique as a group.
What is your favorite WdKA memory?
Gerrit Jan Vos (course director and a tutor) was the one who always believed in us and gave us limitless support <3.
Another tutor, Marie Claire was always there to help us, push us forward, nothing was too much. We had set up an "open course" under her supervision to recruit students who helped us with the campaign for the graduation fashion show.
How did your collaboration start?
When the academy cancelled the fashion show as a separate event during the graduation festival, our class rebelled against that – we organised our own show. We raised 10.000 euro through crowdfunding. We opened a bank account and for being able to do that we had to register as the company at the Chamber of Commerce. "Reconstruct Collective" was born, first with no intention to continue this collaboration after our graduation. However, the opposite happened.
How did your collaboration become a success? Was it a long way full of hardships or did it ‘just happen’?
Success? We have a lot of unaccomplished goals still and plans that can’t be fulfilled yet because of the lack of money. That is why we apply for awards and try to find investors. After that we can start production, gain exposure through PR campaigns, extend selling points, design the next collection and show abroad. Those are a few plans for the near future.
Are you pioneers?
We are six pioneers with six different opinions united in one collective. We discuss everything together and make all our choices together, each of our values and principles are being heard. Everyone’s vision is translated in our designs.
What is the future of your profession in your opinion?
Sexless, genderless, seasonless, rising against anything old-established and being as controversial as possible.
You never leave your house without…?
Lipgloss
Any words of advice to future students?
Apply for internships with us and experience the best six months of your life, learning and growing at our studio aka the RECONSTRUCT palace.
Name your favourite recent project
Amsterdam Fashion Week and the day after when Rihanna asked to borrow some pants from our collection.
