The Beauty That Filled Up the Void - FASHIONCLASH 2025

For weeks, I heard whispers from my peers that an event was about to take place in Maastricht. Intrigued, I inquired about it, however, when I asked my friends, they knew little to nothing about it. The brief conversations I had on the topic brought nothing to light about what was actually going on.  Luckily, I discovered it was the FASHIONCLASH festival from the Maastricht Diplomat, taking place across various locations in Maastricht from the 14th to the 16th of November.

Through the link and information on the event, I discovered that it’s a festival aimed at providing a platform for performers, artists, and designers from the Netherlands and many other countries. The festival offered a variety of events, such as exhibitions, films, workshops, talks and award shows. I decided to attend the Designshop and Open Atelier Shop. The Designshop and Open Atelier event was held at Het Werkgebouw, which is a workspace for approximately 35 independent creators. I was particularly drawn to this event because it offered an opportunity to be in a space surrounded by different types of artists and their pieces, where I could explore, observe and be educated on their craft. 

Accompanied by a fellow writer from the Maastricht Diplomat, Lina, I attended the event on 14th November at Het Werkgebouw. On our way to the Designshop and Open Atelier shop, we saw several posters featuring the FASHIONCLASH festival, walking past a couple of their venues. To be honest, I was expecting a huge turnout of attendees, such as fashion and craft enthusiasts, upcoming designers and maybe a couple of fans of the artists. But it was awfully quiet on our way to the venue, despite my expectation to see several people on the way, with all of us coincidentally going to the same event.

To my surprise, only the conversation between Lina and me could be heard on the way, the wind and the sound of cars zooming by drowning out our voices. We discussed the silence, hoping that we were mistaken and, surely, people would be at the venue. I imagined the place packed with people, some appreciating the art on display, others having conversations, and hello’s and introductions resounding all around us. But we were met with the exact opposite. The venue was nearly empty, except for the artists and… only two visitors? What we had hoped hadn’t been the case.

This did not deter us, though, nor the artists, who happily welcomed us and introduced themselves and their work. It was quite a warm welcome, lifting my mood, which had been previously saddened due to the lack of guests. Upon entering the building, I immediately noticed a small podium, and on it were square pillows wrapped in jean fabric! The colour of the jeans were mismatched but sewn together, showcasing a cohesiveness to the piece. It was a pleasant surprise. In the building, the scent of wood hovered all around as the workspaces for the artists were wooden compartments. It appeared quite spacious, and some artists were very focused on their work. There were several works displayed all around us, some hanging from the ceiling, some on mannequins, and some showcased on tables and booths.

I saw works I had never thought possible or even knew existed, such as wire art installations, which we encountered when we spoke with the visual artist Natascha Waeyen. Her works vary from things you could hold in your hands to three-dimensional pieces where a person could literally step into. Venturing into the space, we spoke with jewellery designer Kristy Bujanić. Her works are stunning! Dieter Lievens, a stained-glass artist, is currently working on a new science-fiction project about the universe. We also met a sustainable fashion designer, Davina Versteeg, and a Dutch jewellery and product designer, Loet Gescher. Lastly, we spoke with Etoile, a bicycle designer and Simone Hensen, a children’s furniture refurbisher and restylist. Moving around in the space and speaking with these talented people made me realise that art is all around us and can begin with things we least expect.

It was exhilarating to be in a space filled with such creative minds. To watch them at work, witnessing the delicate strokes of their hands while painting, or the seriousness of their gaze while trying to arrange a particular piece in their work. To listen to the music they play while working, noticing their slight movement to the song, but with careful attention to their art. And continuing our survey of the area, still in awe of the pieces, I couldn’t help but think that it was surely a shame that there had not been more spectators. This thought circled in my mind, making me question what had gone wrong. Wasn’t this event properly advertised? The posters I saw on my way made me believe otherwise. Was there a gap in communication, or are people just not interested in art, I wondered. But upon meeting the artists, I realised there was nothing to worry about. 

From my interactions with them and time there, I came to realise that they do their work purely out of passion for their craft. With or without an audience, they would continue creating and loving their work. More so, they have one another. The general consensus from the discussions I had was that they all love being around one another: encouraging each other and being their fans. Although separated by workspace, they work as a collective, a community of brilliant minds. They show the importance of having a community to always cheer one another up and the power it holds when their voices are together. Basically, they embody the “together we are stronger” quote. And I could see they wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Although there wasn’t a large audience, it was, without a doubt, a memorable experience for my fellow writer and me. Being in such a creative space made me realise the work and dedication artists put into their craft. It is also quite motivating and comforting to hear the stories of these artists and what keeps them going forward. Their passion, consistency, and dedication to their craft are things we can also implement anywhere in our lives. So, for those not in attendance, it was definitely a missed opportunity to learn and embrace people who have lived different lives. And, most importantly, to experience the vibrancy and the beauty that comes with art.