menu
© Jip Scholtz

Shaping society: fashion, culture and identity

Students from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) dive deep into the intricate relationship between fashion, identity, and cultural dynamics. Raising critical questions about identity formation, digital culture, and the ethics of cultural exchange, the speakers shed light on the intersection of fashion and broader societal and cultural phenomena.

Together with AMFI students we explore the role of fashion in shaping societal values. Stan Geurts questions how crop tops serve as a tool for gay men to navigate and assert their identities during their coming out process. How does this fashion choice challenge traditional gender norms, and what happens when these symbols are commodified? Milou Lamme tackles the paradox of digital detox in a hyper-connected world, questioning how we can reconcile our desire to disconnect with our reliance on digital technology. What does this trend reveal about the deeper tensions between simplicity and the complexities of modern life? Jordan Ramsay addresses the issue of cultural appropriation through the lens of South African fashion, specifically using shweshwe fabric. In a world where cultural exchange is often misinterpreted or exploited, Jordan’s research poses essential questions: Where do we draw the line between appreciation and appropriation and how can fashion honour cultural heritage while also fostering genuine intercultural dialogue?

About the speakers

Stan Geurts is a fourth-year student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) with a focus on fashion and identity. Drawing on Dick Hebdige’s theories of subcultural resistance, symbolic meaning, and power negotiation, Geurts’ research examines how the adoption of crop tops challenges traditional gender norms and serves as a form of resistance within both the broader society and the gay community. He explores the commodification of crop tops and its impact on their symbolic significance and internal power dynamics.

Milou Lamme is a fourth-year Fashion and Branding student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). Interested in the increasing trend of digital detox, her research sheds light on the complex interplay between the desire for simplicity and the unavoidable entanglement with digital technology. Using Jean Baudrillard’s concept of hyperreality, Milou delves into the paradox of seeking an offline existence in a heavily online world.

Jordan Ramsay is a fourth-year Fashion and Branding student at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). Ramsay’s research focuses on the complexities of cultural appropriation using shweshwe, a traditional South African fabric known for its vibrant colours and intricate patterns. She explores the delicate balance between cultural appropriation and appreciation, considering the socio-cultural dynamics within South Africa.

Myriam Noriega (moderator) is an aspiring fashion curator and currently in her fourth year studying at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI), majoring in Business and Development with an Honours minor in Fashion Theories. She enjoys making meaningful interventions between fashion, art and theoretical knowledge through research, development of creative strategies and establishing new methodologies to consume fashion in order to engage consumers into learners.

Gerelateerde programma’s
04 11 25
Towards a common approach to Europe’s colonial past
European Integration and Co-Imperialism

Until recently, the former imperial nation states of Europe often regarded themselves as historically homogeneous nation states with a colonial past that was separate from their European continental history. Recent research shows that the European integration process was closely intertwined with modern imperialism and decolonization. Tonight, our speakers will discuss these new developments in historiography.  

Datum
Dinsdag 4 nov 2025 20:00 uur
Locatie
SPUI25
Aanmelden
31 03 25
Over de rand laait vuur

Miep van der Velde en Henk van der Heijden, de ouders van historicus Chris van der Heijden, bewogen zich tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog aan de verkeerde kant van het politieke spectrum. Die keuze wierp een schaduw over hun leven en dat van hun gezin. In zijn nieuwe boek Over de rand laait vuur verdiept Van der Heijden zich in de levens van zijn ouders. Hoe kwamen zij tot de keuzes die zij maakten? Vanavond gaat de auteur over zijn bevindingen in gesprek met Anne-Lot Hoek, Ewout Kieft en Laura Stek.

Datum
Maandag 31 mrt 2025 20:00 uur
Locatie
SPUI25
20 03 25
Colonial Collections under Scrutiny: Researching the Origin of Objects

How can academics and museum professionals research the provenance of a colonial museum collection? And can we trace possible ‘involuntary loss of possession’ or looted objects? During the colonial era, a variety of objects were taken to the Netherlands, often against the will of their original owners. For some years now, these collections and the possible return of colonial objects have been under scrutiny.

Datum
Donderdag 20 mrt 2025 17:00 uur
Locatie
SPUI25