As someone who has lived in Milan for seven years, where all you really get from the fashion industry is trends and spectacle, it is really refreshing to come across perspectives that go far beyond trends and societal expectations. The State of Fashion Biennale 2026 in Arnhem shows how it is possible to work within this industry with a critical eye and come up with alternatives that involve the people and areas that so often remain out of the spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While most of us are aware of the impact of the fashion industry on the environment and on people's living conditions, it is sometimes very difficult to imagine a different way of making fashion without waste, pollution and exploitation. These alternative approaches include looking at other, non-Western traditions and materials, and embracing differences as a source of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While collaborating with several countries around the world and providing a platform for international artists, the Biennale manages to maintain a connection with the local, Dutch art and fashion scene: this is particularly evident in Stadhuisplein and in The Entrepreneurial Lab, where the former exhibits graduation projects by students from ArtEz's Bachelor of Fashion Design programme and the latter presents a project realised in collaboration with the local community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking Arnhem as its starting point, the Biennale broadens its horizons to encompass all possible ways of making fashion, offering audiences a sense of hope in these uncertain times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The State of Fashion Biennale 2026 in Arnhem, open from 14 May to 28 June, articulates its principles in the title Available to Promise: Hidden Systems, Shared Futures. The Biennale's programme, which has its base and roots in Arnhem, opens the door to the world and asks a fundamental question: what is fashion really?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are used to thinking about the final product, but we usually ignore the processes these objects went through before they reached our shops, and also where they end up when they are broken, too small or out of fashion. The State of Fashion Biennale aims to give the public an overall view of fashion as a process, reflecting on who bears the consequences of this industry and what might change in the future. This is its main strength, the implicit hope we already see in the title \u2018Available to Promise\u2019, meaning that these promises can be reshaped and revised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I attended the opening of the State of Fashion Biennale 2026 on 13 May and had the chance to get a sneak preview of the various venues where the Biennale will take place from 14 May: the Eusebius Church, Rozet, the outdoor pavilion on Stadhuisplein, Museum Arnhem and The Entrepreneurial Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fashion-related projects will be presented at these five venues, alternately highlighting the local dimension and the whole world, linking Arnhem with various foreign partners through a series of integrated research projects in Sri Lanka, China and Ghana. The international dimension of the Biennale shows how the fashion industry is globally interconnected, with these connections extending even to non-human worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Built around five interlinked pillars - Develop, Distribute, Hype, Experience, Transform - the Biennale reveals the hidden aspects of fashion production, while maintaining a productive tension with what is actually on display: this is particularly evident in the main exhibition at the Eusebius Church, where one can encounter fabrics, hands, stories and the final product, alongside an ironic look at fashion trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After visiting two other venues, Stadhuisplein and Het OndernemersLab, where the local dimension of the Biennale becomes clear, the exhibition in the Eusebius Church fully embraces the international scope of the Biennale; a paradox, given that the exhibition is in the main city church. Yet the church itself becomes the gateway to a revelation of how the fashion industry works and how many different people and places are involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This setting, which is both fascinating and challenging as the curators noted, houses the most complex part of the Biennale's curation, bringing together very diverse artworks, from fine art to fashion design. In this church, the three curators, Anouchka van Driel, Shanu Walpita and Anne Zhou, explained their vision of fashion as a collaborative process involving multiple interconnected actors. When walking into the church, this interconnectedness becomes increasingly clear: from the entrance to the back part, where there is an impressive organ, visitors pass through all the different stages of the fashion industry, from production to disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first part of the exhibition, titled \u2018Develop\u2019, highlights the process behind textile production, with an emphasis on workers\u2018 rights and the exploitative conditions they are exposed to: this is most aptly seen in Wang Bing's \u2019Young (Spring)\u2018, an installation that juxtaposes neatly cleaned, unworn new clothes with video footage of migrant textile workers. But there is also room for hope: \u2019Human Touch', a German conceptual fashion brand combining art and activism, invents alternative ways of working within the industry. The same mechanism of criticism combined with possible solutions is repeated in the subsequent pillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under Hype, Charlotte Maeva Perret's The Riot Collection offers an explicit critique of fashion in digital circulation, questioning the relationship between logos and identity: the work mimics branded items by scouring the internet for iconic fashion images and printing them on an original collection, inventing the concept of \u201cfashion piracy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exhibition concludes with the Transform pillar, which challenges the current \u2018death\u2019 of clothing and attempts to imagine different futures for clothing. Liquid Bodies by Rosie Broadhead, a designer and researcher specialising in eco-materials, outlines a vision of new textiles that are beneficial to both humans and the environment, transforming fabric into an interface between the body and the world around it, from a more-than-human perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What struck me most after the visit was the sense of freshness the exhibition exudes through its curatorial choices. And above all, a hope for future change in the fashion industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We know fashion has a cost. But do we know what it really looks like? Visiting the 2026 State of Fashion Biennale in Arnhem across its five location, including a Gothic church, is a reminder that another way of making clothes is not just possible, but already happening.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1291,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":3,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"federated","wpai_meta_description":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4757,16518,10274,11687],"tags":[16548],"class_list":["post-109386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beeldende-kunst-2","category-featured","category-mode","category-donatie-gevraagd","tag-modebiennale-arnhem"],"views":3340,"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57446,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2018\/07\/hoe-bier-drinken-en-haute-couture-prima-samen-gaan-op-het-fashion-design-festival-arnhem\/","url_meta":{"origin":109386,"position":0},"title":"How drinking beer and Haute Couture go together just fine at the Fashion + Design Festival Arnhem","author":"Lies Mensink","date":"4 July 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Als ik aan mode dacht, zag ik een elitegroepje bij de catwalk voor me: kattige modellen en vijandige ontwerpers. Na mijn bezoek aan het Fashion + Design Festival Arnhem zijn al die beelden volledig bijgesteld. In de maand juni lijkt iedereen in modieus Arnhem samen te werken. Modeontwerpers lopen broederlijk\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Festivalatlas"","block_context":{"text":"Festivalatlas","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/service\/specials\/festivalatlas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/mirror.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/mirror.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/mirror.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/mirror.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/mirror.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/mirror.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61949,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2019\/09\/podcast-waarom-zo-bescheiden-modest-fashion-viert-exuberante-bedekking-als-nieuwe-modestroming\/","url_meta":{"origin":109386,"position":1},"title":"PODCAST! Why so modest? Modest Fashion celebrates exuberant covering as a new fashion trend.","author":"Wijbrand Schaap","date":"22 September 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Since a still-famous, superbly dressed theatre deity declared me unfit for a future in his theatre in 1991 because of my shabby wardrobe, things have never really worked out between me and fashion, although these days my wife guards me from making too big a mistake. Not a very good starting point...","rel":"","context":"In "BEELDEND"","block_context":{"text":"BEELDEND","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/beeldende-kunst-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190921_163540.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190921_163540.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190921_163540.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190921_163540.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/20190921_163540.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52883,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2017\/10\/majid-karrouch-bloemen-dutch-design-en-berberse-hijab\/","url_meta":{"origin":109386,"position":2},"title":"Majid Karrouch: flowers, Dutch design and the Berber hijab","author":"Melody Deldjou Fard","date":"7 October 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Zijn werk is wereldwijd te zien in gerenommeerde modemagazines. Majid Karrouch is momenteel een van onze internationale visitekaartjes in de creatieve Industrie. Ik zocht hem op in zijn atelier, dat al even bijzonder is als de beelden die hij maakt. SCENE 1:\u00a0#Ontmoeting Een tijdje geleden maakte ik via Instagram voor\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alleen voor leden"","block_context":{"text":"Alleen voor leden","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/service\/members-only\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/scene-0.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/scene-0.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/scene-0.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61463,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2019\/07\/eindelijk-belangenorganisaties-kunst-en-creatieve-industrie-zoeken-samenwerking\/","url_meta":{"origin":109386,"position":3},"title":"At last. Interest groups arts and creative industries seek collaboration","author":"Wijbrand Schaap","date":"19 July 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"It is actually a footnote in the press release that lobby organisation Kunsten '92 sent out into the world today. But, as always with footnotes, it did contain the most important news. Because Kunsten 92, the club in which organisations in the arts sector polder, is 'exploring cooperation' with the Creative Industry Federation. The latter is the...","rel":"","context":"In "ACTUEEL"","block_context":{"text":"ACTUEEL","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/nieuws\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DCI-logo-CMYK1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DCI-logo-CMYK1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DCI-logo-CMYK1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DCI-logo-CMYK1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89118,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2023\/01\/continue-this-thread-karim-adduchi-x-tess-van-zalinge-nieuwe-tentoonstelling-over-de-kracht-van-handwerken-in-het-amsterdam-museum\/","url_meta":{"origin":109386,"position":4},"title":"Continue This Thread. Karim Adduchi x Tess van Zalinge - New exhibition on the power of crafts at Amsterdam Museum","author":"een van onze leden","date":"3 January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Jurken gemaakt uit Marokkaanse borduurapplicaties en patchwork couture van ge\u00fcpcyclede designerstoffen. De Amsterdamse modeontwerpers Karim Adduchi en Tess van Zalinge kregen in de afgelopen jaren veel naamsbekendheid met hun ontwerpen ge\u00efnspireerd op historische en streekgebonden handwerktechnieken. Met duurzame collecties als \u2018natuurlijk\u2019 (Van Zalinge, 2022) en community-projecten als de \u2018Social [Distancing]\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BEELDEND"","block_context":{"text":"BEELDEND","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/beeldende-kunst-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Een collage van foto s behorende bij de expositie in het amsterdam Museum, met veel beelden van geweven kunstwerken","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Collage.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101437,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/koninklijk-paar-opent-nederlands-paviljoen-biennale-venetie\/","url_meta":{"origin":109386,"position":5},"title":"Royal Couple opens Dutch Pavilion Venice Biennale","author":"Ministerie van OCW","date":"21 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen M\u00e1xima will open the Dutch Pavilion of the Venice Biennale on Wednesday 6 May 2026. Minister Letschert of Education, Culture and Science will also attend the opening and give a speech. The Dutch entry at the 61st edition of the biennale has...","rel":"","context":"In "BEELDEND"","block_context":{"text":"BEELDEND","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/beeldende-kunst-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3yKke-ssi","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1291"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109386"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110583,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109386\/revisions\/110583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}