Photo: Mediamatic
Fashion designer Maaike Gottschal has her own label: thisisnotparis Sometimes she collaborates with other artists or designers. For instance, her next collection, Paris Fashion, was created with Natasha Hagenbeek. Besides working with her label, Maaike produced the Droog Designs Urban Play Route, an international exhibition-project on urban design. Maaike lives in the house with the narrowest façade in the city. This is her's Amsterdam.
Being a fashion designer yourself, where in the city do you go for inspiration?
Galleri Fons Welters Photo: Tonie
It depends what I’m working on, but looking at modern art always gives me new ideas. I regularly visit the gallery of Fons Welters, and I also frequent Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam and the modern art gallery circuit around the Rozengracht.
Crucial to my work is the story, the concept, behind the clothes. I used to hang around at the flea market Noordermarkt after the market was finished, wondering why the piles of clothes left behind were not fashionable anymore. In addition, I’m attracted to the periphery, to the outskirts of the city.
Once I was working on a collection of football knits and found a strange football club in the Amsterdamse bos. These individually dressed -up men, who changed in a car trunk, brought new inspiration to my project. Sometimes it is just a tiny detail that fascinates me and I start tracing it. A good example is my project White. I saw those paint spots on the working clothes of painters, and the blur of colors on their clothes triggered something in my mind.
Do you think Amsterdam offers good shopping possibilities and where do you like shopping yourself?
Sprmrkt Photo: Mymonobrow
Maybe Amsterdam is not the most hip and trendy city but there are several shops worth a visit. Sky, on the Herengracht 228 is an interesting place. Amongst others, you can find the French labels Isabel Marant and a.p.c. Van Ravenstein has a beautiful collection, but it’s a really exclusive boutique. I prefer Sprmrkt on the Rozengracht. In this former supermarket they sell fashion (from acne to martin magiela). It’s not only couture - it’s more grungy and underground. Besides they have books and vintage interior design pieces. I also like looking for clothes at the Volksbond shop on Haarlemmerstraat 146. Knowing that many inhabitants of the Grachtengordel (people living in the canals houses who are normally well-off) bring their old stuff there, it’s always fun to stroll around.
Do you have a favourite hangout place?
The Movies
I don’t exactly have one place where I go on a regular basis but there are certain spots which have attracted me over the years. For instance,
I’m fond of The Movies, a stunning art deco café and a cinema on Haarlemmer straat.
Café In ’t Aepjen
Or the typical Dutch café In ’t Aepjen, located in one of the oldest houses in Amsterdam on the Zeedijk 1. I like to plunge into this always crowded place which charms tourists and locals alike. To cope with hectic city, I like to relax on the farm of my boyfriend far away in Oost Voorne. But on a pretty sunny day, when all the terraces in the centre tend to be jam-packed, I’ll take the boat with my bike and go straight to Amsterdam Noord. I think Noord has got potential and is the up-and-coming part of the city right now. Just look at projects like the gardens and district of Tolhuistuin. Such initiatives will give the area an enormous boost. I have seen the same development in other parts of the city - as soon as artists and other culture-minded people settle down, the establishment will follow sooner or later.
Amsterdam is famous for paintings of the Golden Age and Van Gogh. Do you visit trendier galleries’ or art institutions?
Tobias Rehberger-installation (2008) at Stedelijk Museum. Photo: Niceness
I am a big fan of the outstanding collection of the Stedelijk Museum. The museum building on the Museumsplein is currently closed for renovation works scheduled to to end in December 2009 and until then the museum will organise travelling exhibitions on different locations in town.
Windowshopping: Mediamatic Photo: Nadia Peek
Furthermore, I consider Netherlands Media Arts Institute Montevideo on the Keizersgracht 264 to be a significant institution, as well as Mediamatic - but the latter doesn’t always exhibitions running. And of course the galleries around the Rozengracht that I mentioned before.
When your latest project has finished successfully, where are you celebrating?
Westerpark Photo: D_vdm
It’s a pity that I don’t have a garden in Amsterdam. In summertime I adore eating outside. I certainly would go for a barbecue or picnic with friends in the Westerpark. But on very special occasions I would love to take my sweetheart for a diner at Van de Kaart on Prinsesgracht 512. I enjoy the French cuisine, the personal professional service and of course the delicate food. Normally I don’t dine that high class; I eat in one of those little places on Haarlermerstaat or take a Thai somewhere in town.
I’m not so much in to clubbing anymore but I love to party at openings, festivities at W139, or crazy thematic parties at Mediamatic. And I almost forgot - Studio 80 is a nice place when I want to dance!
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