COMMON Magazine Europe - SPRING 2017

2017 SPRING//COMMON
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DIVE INTO THE
WORLD OF
VLIEGER &
VANDAM
WITH FOUNDERS, CAROLIEN VLIEGER
AND HEIN VAN DAM
By Isabel Claudet
How would you describe your brand?
We have a habit of putting a smile on your
face with our designs.
How has your brand evolved?
In our opinion, it all started with an
overkill of information in the newspapers
and on television about all sorts of danger
in the streets of Rotterdam, where we
lived at that time, we developed a series of
'armed' bags in 2002. Being a graphic
designer (Carolien) and a product
designer (Hein) we didn't know how to
make bags, so we bought lots of second
hand handbags in thrift stores in and
around Rotterdam. We cut off the top of
the bags with its handles and zipped
closing and used those parts to create our
first bag collection. We added our part; in
wool embossed 3D shapes of guns, knives,
and crucifixes and later handcuffs.
In the following years we developed the
shapes of the bags, we started using the
best full grain leathers instead of wool felt,
and we created new bag collections. We
like the idea seeing bags as a blank canvas
to which we can add our ideas and
designs. The Vlieger & Vandam collection
is quite outspoken, we received lots of
media attention right from the start. In the
years that followed celebrities like
Rihanna, Rita Ora and the late architect
Dame Zaha Hadid spotted carrying our
bags.
What are you fascinated by at the
moment and how does it feed into your
work?
We are always fascinated by materials and
techniques. Finding ways to add our own
touch to create and design something
unique. We have our own machines and
techniques to emboss shapes in leather.
From using this technique in a storytelling
way like the Guardian Angel
collection, we also created a series of bags
called Reinforced. For these bags we
developed molds to add a foam-filled
shape in leather which reinforces the bag.
Which makes a strong and sturdy bag.
Right now we are also working on a series
of leather cushions and stools.
What are the biggest inspiration behind
your latest collection?
For the SS17 collection we were inspired
by the fun things in everyday life. By
reading the news and following global
issues worldwide there are not much to be
happy about these days. The internet and
social media provides a large stream of
world-news which catches your eye all day
long. One will almost forget about his/her
own life by seeing worldly problems 24/7.
We thought it was time to focus on little
things, nice things in life, like cruising a
convertible on a sunny summer evening,
or walking your dog along the waterside.
We also introduced the series
(RE)DEFINED, our favorite bags reduced
to their most beautiful core.
If you had to choose a piece from the
entire collection what will it be? And
Why?
We love the things most that we're
working on right now. So we pick a bag
from the upcoming Studs-collection.
Visit www.vliegervandam.com
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