Our attention was caught by the "Threads That Bind: A Dutch Dance Fashion Exhibition," during the shesaid.so space at ADE 2023, showcasing six distinct outfits from individuals in the electronic dance scene. We asked Fontys student, Sanne van der Bruggen to guide us through the details of the student's project.
Hii, I am Sanne van der Bruggen, 20 years old and currently following the minor Dance Industry at Fontys in Tilburg.
In the past six months I have discovered that I really enjoy working in the events world. In my third year of HBO, I did an internship at the INTRO Festival of Avans University of Applied Sciences. Afterwards I decided to align my minor to that internship.
During my internship I gained experience as a content manager and I really enjoyed it. I am currently busy organizing my own event and am looking forward to further discovering which aspects of the electronic dance scene I like.
Could you provide a brief overview of some key details about your fashion installation at ADE 2023?
The exhibition consisted of 6 outfits from individuals from the electronic dance scene. Each outfit had a QR code attached to it, and behind that the QR code there was a video in which the owner of the outfit explained what it meant to them.
In addition to the outfits, a video was shown on an LED screen in which Meegan Denkers AKA Redbastard introduced the exhibition by sharing her vision on fashion in the electronic dance scene.
What inspired you to participate in the 'Threads that Bind, a Dutch Dance Fashion Exhibition' as a student at Fontys, and how does your fashion installation contribute to the overall theme of the event?
There are many subcultures and trends within the dance industry, and fashion is a significant part of it. We strongly believe in the power of clothing as a medium to express emotions, creativity, and personality. On one hand, it showcases individuality and serves as a form of self-expression, but on the other hand, it can also foster a sense of belonging when styles or trends are embraced by many.
Can you share some insights into the creative process behind your fashion installation? How did you decide on the concept, materials, and overall design?
Together with my team we looked at which electronic music styles we thought should definitely be represented in the exhibition. We wanted to put together a diverse selection of outfits. It was important that newer trends but also some older styles in the electronic music industry were shown. We looked for people who we felt fit the persona of one of the styles and asked if they would make their outfit available for our exhibition.
Finally, what are your aspirations for your artistic creations?
By sharing personal stories of individuals from the dance industry, we were hoping to inspire visitors and encourage them to embrace their own unique identity , and for future creations and projects I would like to keep inspiring people while discovering the sense of connection that arises from the shared love for music.
Connect with Sanne:
Instagram: @sannevanderbruggen
Linkedin: Sanne van der Bruggen
Link to the official minor webpage
ADE x Fontys Page
Backstage Do´s & Dont’s (panel)
The World of Online Fan Communities (panel)
Workshop: Wave, music production beyond the mainstream (workshop
From Sound to Share: The AI-Infused Social Media art workshop (workshop)
Threads That Bind: A Dutch Dance Fashion Exhibition (exhibition)