Jeff Montes – Dissolving Clothes Shocked Audience

♥ Jeff Montes, truly shocking show. Models were almost naked, some slipped and almost fell because of the slippery, wet catwalk. Nobody knew where to look….

Jeff Montes, Amsterdam Fashion Week AW – Dissolving Clothes Shocked Audience

His silhouettes are based on elementary and architectural shapes. An important factor in his designs is the creation of innovative materials. Innovative? Certainly! Jeff Montes’ show left confusion by the audience. Fashion Statement or Fashion Fail… Not sure. His idea and goal of this collection, is one big question mark, though memorable it definitely was.

The first model, pregnant and almost naked, walked down the runway with a big balloon filled with water. When the balloon burst, everyone thought it was a mistake. It looked like the balloon was symbolic for the pregnancy; close to nature, very fragile, yet beautiful. Making it burst on purpose, gave it an odd feeling.

Though things were getting even stranger. Not only did every model carry a balloon filled with water ánd a needle to make it burst.. Their silvery/black “clothing” dissolved in water too! Models were almost completely naked, some slipped and some almost fell because of the slippery, wet catwalk. People next to me kept saying they were afraid to look at the show, didn’t want the models to fall. Nobody knew where to look. It was truly shocking.

Most of his designs are translations of personal heritage founded in ancestral objects and inserted into experimental fabrications which creates contemporary silhouettes. In this way Jeff is trying to find a balance between conceptual art and wearable designs. Everything that typifies Jeff Montes, is his fascinations for shapes, fabrics and craft. However, this time, it’s not exactly a ready-to-wear collection, unless you want to get completely naked by blaming the rain in the Netherlands. It’s an option.

“When I made the prêt-à-porter collection I knew that this was not what I wanted to do as a designer.”

His debut collection, Illuminosa, was a successful show at FWA. In this show, one model threw ink all over her fiberglass dress. The collection was inspired by religion, like sacrament candles, suet and fire processes. This collection was a next step.

One thing he did absolutely right: he gave us something to remember. To talk about for years. Because this show is one, we’ll never forget and will keep flabbergasting us.