The four young fashion designers Anouk van Klaveren, Christa van der Meer, Dewi Bekker and Gino Anthonisse together form the collective Das Leben am Haverkamp. They present themselves as a collective and they each have a label of their own too. The designs are often inspired by alter egos, transformation, imaging and status symbols. In contrast to the classic fashion system – where collections are launched in rapid succession in set fashion weeks – Das Leben am Haverkamp determines its own calendar and they are always on the lookout for alternative forms of presentation. The commercial success of garments is not the most important factor for them, rather their artistic expression, with which they push the boundaries of their discipline. Das Leben am Haverkamp does not shy away from new unfamiliar territory, and this is clearly visible in their inventive performances and presentations.

The committee sees an example in Das Leben am Haverkamp for the new generation of (fashion) designers. Through bundling their strengths, this designer’s collective develops a distinct recognisable style of their own. They capture the spirit of the times and inspire in their professional ’can do’ attitude. It is exactly the drive, professionalism and the exuberant attitude that so inspires. Das Leben am Haverkamp creates a visual celebration for the eye, in which colour, texture, love of fabrics and the craft of couture come convincingly together with the redefinition of the catwalk. Through the designer’s different backgrounds, they are able to present a complete picture of fashion and jewellery design, performance, photography and presentation.