‘After an eventful year, spring inspires us with an appetite for something new. Something beautiful, something special that is lovingly crafted.’ Under that philosophy, de Bijenkorf presents the window exhibition ‘In the making’ from March 9 to June 9, 2021.

Twelve designers - alone or in collectives - were commissioned by de Bijenkorf to create new designs from white test fabrics, so-called ‘toiles,’ with which they draw attention to the traditional manufacturing process of fashion design and creation. Within that work, they also reflect on contemporary themes, such as sustainability, inclusiveness, and the importance of creativity. The designers contributing to the exhibition are Suzanne Mulder, Merle Kroezen and Puck Martens from Studio PMS, Armia Yousefi, Margherita Soldati, Lisa Konno, Camiel Fortgens, Marie Lamberechts, Flora van Egeraat, Romy Yedidia, Tess van Zalinge and Sinéad O’Dwyer.

In addition, students of the Master Coupeur course and the Dutch Shoe Academy made reconstructions of silhouettes that were once sold at de Bijenkorf in the more than 150 years that the department store has existed, using the same sample fabrics. ‘In the making’ is a Room on the Roof project, which is the name for the small tower room at the top of the Amsterdam de Bijenkorf, where local and international artists are invited to work ‘in residence.’ Recent artists working there include Martina Taranto, Duran Lantink, and Koos Buster. The exhibition runs from March 6 to 26 at de Bijenkorf in Eindhoven, from April 6 to 18 in Rotterdam, from April 19 to May 2 in The Hague and Amstelveen, from May 3 to 11 in Utrecht and Maastricht, and ends its journey at the original de Bijenkorf store in Amsterdam, where the exhibition will be on display from May 24 to June 6.