Amsterdam based visionair Linda Erkens has set up a LAND (womenswear label) of her own that keeps expanding and triggers with a ‘more than meets the eye’ mentality. After an inspiring season at Raf Simons in Antwerp, Linda returned to the Netherlands a few years ago. She now focuses on creating a minimal, pure and functional collection that features inventive detailling. The same can be said for her working environment which reveals a lot about Linda’s nature and the aesthetics that pour into her clothing.
A one-time school building at Amsterdam Westerpark is now home to Linda’s studio. Her attention to details are hidden everywhere in this workspace. A stack of magazines with the cover picturing the Eiffel Tower with a tiny, gold coloured version of that iconic Tower placed on top. Or a pocketwatch sitting on the edge of a wall with a quote you may barely notice: “I won’t sell my time for money”. All of this fills a space vast in size and dainty in details, along with what Linda calls her ‘3D collages’.
“I like to work with depth, there are hidden layers in my design such as a pocket that isn’t fully stitched through. Just this small and multifunctional adjustment should bring a new dimension.” She explains that the basic construction of a piece, working with the original modules that were already layed out for her, are of continuous inspiration. “To develop innovation you have to acknowledge other patterns and be sincere,” is surely Linda’s approach.
The latest collection for S/S 2012 varies in a further experiment with constructional pieces, the jacket, the trousers and the blouse, with a hint of new hues such as coral and dusty pink.
Author > Kaira van Wijk
