Niels Peeraer was born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1989. In 2011 he graduated the MA in fashion, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. He then moved to Paris, France, where he created his own label and he mainly creates leather accessories.

Being attracted to beautiful objects since he was a child, the designer decided to turn his sketches in clothes that bring happiness in our lives. He declares that he was never attracted to the glamour part of fashion “because when you work în fashion there’s mostly hard work and very little glamour.” (danieldunt.com/2012/12/12/interview-designer-niels-peeraer/).

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Asked what is his particularity as a designer he replied in an interview: “I have been known for my accessories made in creamy pink thick vegetable tan leather, combined with brass fittings. The fact that I always work gender-less (and that I always use Asian boys to present this) is also about the first thing people know about my work.” (www.dresslab.com/show/niels-peeraer-springsummer-2013/).

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The materials he works with are mainly vegetable tanned bridle leather, handmade tweed, silk tulle, fake fur, cow leather, sequined silk. His greatest passion is leather and he plays with the contrast between its toughness and the femininity of the accessories.

He states that his inspiration for his collection comes from the multitude of online data, as he is playing with the images found on the Internet – like juxtaposing two images that can generate new meanings.

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The designer has an intellectual approach to the themes he chooses, since he is passionate about the Japanese design and, like other Belgian designers, he creates a temporal pieces and he doesn’t feel the need to be with the trend.

Collections:

• KIZOKUSYAKAI NO DOREI, GEISHA N°58-65 wins the innovation award from Anne Chapelle (leading woman behind Ann Demeulemeester and Haider Ackerman) şi RA Award în cadrul ITS#9 (Internaţional Talent Support, Italy).

photo dresslab.com

• SS2011Collection “Guess technology isn’t ready for pancake teleportation” (June, 2011): “A collection about a boy who has  an imaginary boyfriend, but prepares everyday to get married to his  love. He wears his grandmother’s couture jackets and does nothing but playing videogames and eating sweets.” * sursă: http://thisispaper.com/Niels-Peeraer-Collection-2011

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The collection received five awards, and he collaborated with the Belge leather company – Delvaux.

• SS2013 collection, “Golden rays seal the gift as Zephyr crowns your silken heart”

“This time I wanted it to be a bit mysterious and vague so people needed to think about it. It’s inspired on the story of 2 Greek Gods which I interpreted in my own way. Zephyrus: about the tenderness and fragility of love from the gentlest of winds to a young boy. Pandora: about locking up that fragility to protect it from getting harmed. With ‘crowning a heart’ I refer to the action of declaring your love, giving someone the power to ‘rule’ your heart.” (danieldunt.com/2012/12/12/interview-designer-niels-peeraer)

• Aw2013 ‘HUA DAN CALYX’- Wearable accessories having the same touch so specific to the designer.

photo mzelle-fraise.fr

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Website: http://www.nielspeeraer.com

Contact: info@nielspeeraer.com

by Alexandra Ivascu

Alexandra Ivașcu is a fashion designer living and working in Cluj. She is pursuing her PhD at the University of Arts and Design, Cluj, studying the representation of the couple in contemporary art.

Website: http://www.ivascualexandra.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artisallwehave