Constructed

A collection of Constructed pieces, deformed, re-used and turned around.

With parts and pieces you build your life. You learn, you discover, you remember and you forget. You stack, you connect, you tear yourself apart and paste it back together yet. You have to shape and reshape to be able to continue building. First, you build too much and too high, until every piece falls into place Only than you see that you have many stones left. But it was necessary to have all these stones, to know what you know now. Els Petit (1981) was educated as a fashion designer at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten Maastricht (2006), The Netherlands. What especially fascinates her is the shape of the human body. This shape is her initial concept, a point of departure for her work. Taking the shape of the human body as basic principle, she investigates the possibilities to reform, emphasize or tone down this shape externally. Petit experienced the hard work and energy of the fashionworld during her internship at Gaspard Yurkievich in Paris which inspired her to start her own label 'Elsewerk' in 2007. Elsewerk is a new refreshing approach to fashion, where fashion is seen as Art but brought back to reality. After some experimental/Couture pieces a ready-to-wear collection takes shape which is always refreshingly sober and challenging to wear. Sophisticated leisurewear with a twist and an unexpected use of fabrics. The fabrics and prints are designed by Petit herself, and are handprinted/embroidered or adapted by hand. In winter most knits come from her own hand. Her clothes make you lift up your head proudly in the fresh spring wind and make you walk lightly in the summer breeze, if you only dare… Besides her own label Elsewerk, Els Petit is one of the initiators of FASHIONCLASH Maastricht, a brand new fashionweek in Maastricht, The Netherlands for young talented, not yet discovered fashion-, jewellry and product designers. Besides the great catwalk programm there is an exhibition with art and design connected to Fashion in any way. Fashion fotography, illustrations, paintings and more. Petit organises fashionshows and fashion exhibitions on demand in collaboration with the FASHIONCLASH Foundation. Check www.fashionclash.nl for more info. Petit is more than willing to make tailormade fashion for any special occasion, theatre or performances. Fotografie Studio Els Zweerink, elszweerink@gmail.com Locatie Bijlmerparktheater