For all of us non-Rietveld people, the art school, known as the incubator to some of the city’s brightest young talent across art and design, might seem like an impenetrable and elusive institution. Its students, dressed in the finest vinted finds and shrouded by an aura of effortless cool, tend to move in packs and frequent places that even the most fervent Amsterdam connoisseurs have never heard of. If you do somehow end up at the same function, you’ll spot them as the most stylish people there – and the most reclusive ones too.
I got a glimpse into this world through my childhood best friend, a Rietveld Architecture student, whose Amsterdam Oost loft was a congregation point for all her friends, who in a very art-school fashion, all hailed from Rietveld. A frequent guest, I found myself transported to a free spirited world, quite the opposite from the one I was living as a UvA student at the time. In between sketching on the walls, skating in the middle of the living room, and discovering the next big hyper-pop star, I met some of the most fascinating and talented people in Amsterdam.
Although those interactions helped me get a clearer understanding of the spirit that flows through the academy, I had never made my way to the infamous grounds until a couple of months ago, when that very same friend asked me to drive her to get 100 kilograms of cement and plexiglass for her graduation project. Being in a perpetual rush, my first encounter with the steel and glass radical minimalist haven was brief and, naturally, kept my curious self wanting more. So, when the opportunity came up to go back, I couldn’t help but equip myself with a camera and some hefty questions to, at last, decipher the mystery that is the Gerrit Rietveld Academie.
The occasion was an exciting one too – the graduates of the fashion course were preparing for their biggest event of the year, the fashion show, bound to take place next week on Monday, May 25th. The same spirit of openness that makes Rietveld a truly unique art school, also sets the fashion faculty apart. The moment you step foot into the airy, bright space of the fashion department, the incentive to challenge and question the status-quo through the act of creation unravels in front of you: A full collection made from 18th century letters, garments made of re-worked “butt scrunch” leggings, clothes that are not worn, but applied with a special mixture of water. Set against the backdrop of lush greenery, each corner of the atelier reveals itself to be a radical world of its own.
I spent the afternoon wandering, conversing, exploring all the nooks of the space to try and get a better picture of the students that will be presenting at the show next week. I could keep on recounting my fascination at the level of talent I discovered that afternoon, but I’d rather let Feliz Aaliyah Sánchez Buitrago, Evelina Nanny Eliasson, Johanne Fage-Larsen, Joris Janssen, Estefania Escalona Millano, Mikołaj Szwaja and Simone Winder and their work speak for themselves.
You can get a ticket to see their work for yourself during the Gerrit Rietveld fashion show on May 25th, 2026. Graduates will be showing their final collections along with first-year students, Michelangelo Arena, Isabella Blom, Kim Claessens, Willemijn Eman, Zoé Monteiro George, Timber ter Kuile, Bontu-Juliette Maison, Darre Sil Macrander, Antoinette Mousseigne, Milly Näs, Beatriz França, Neto, Arina Sergeecheva and Lui Tóth-Balassa.
Photo scans and development by Analogue Amsterdam.
Can you briefly introduce yourself?
Feliz Aaliyah Sánchez Buitrago: I am Dutch/ Colombian, crazy & joyful & colorful, I love to work with secondhand materials & give them a new life!
Mikołaj Szwaja: I’m Mikołaj Szwaja.
Johanne Fage-Larsen: I’m Johanne, 26 years old, I’m from Denmark, I have a big love for the antique and costumes.
Joris Janssen: Hi I’m Joris, 24 years old and from Utrecht, and you should know that I make a lot of thongs and that I’m obsessed with divas in pop culture.
Simone Winder: I’m Simone 21 years from Alkmaar and I am a fashion activist, disturbing female gymwear and creating new silhouettes.
Where do you find inspiration?
Feliz Aaliyah: In my Colombian history, my memories over the years, the culture of different ethnicities, and my imagination – it’s easy for me to just come up with something within seconds. And in stuff that I already have and then use to make new beautiful things A.K.A. FelizStyle (my style is always very costume vibes party vibes celebration of life.)
Mikołaj: World.
Johanne Fage-Larsen: I find inspiration in garments that can make me escape my own time. I am collecting and sourcing costumes and old garments, which is something I spend quite a lot of time doing. The first time I was allowed in the storage of my favorite costume shop I got lost and spent four hours up there, until the owner yelled at me: “are you still up there?” I like to disappear, just for a little while. I find that in garments and dressing up.
Joris: Most of my inspiration comes from pop culture and music. This can be music videos but also the CD section at Rataplan where I try to find the best old trashy aesthetics (the random summermixes from the 00-s come with great style). Besides that, I love reading about queer history and queer identity, this always pushes me to make my designs more impactful.
Simone: As a fashion activist and designer I find inspiration in trends and ongoing movements in fashion that frustrate and/or fascinates me. Currently I am obsessed with female gym wear and more specific “butt scrunch leggings”.
What is your earliest fashion memory?
Feliz Aaliyah: I would dress up when I was 5, created my own costumes, and styled and dressed my dolls and barbies.
Mikołaj: Trying on a glass bowl and pretending it’s a glass hat and my Ben10 T-shirt for my 6th birthday.
Johanne: In general, I have always liked to dress up as a kid, play different characters. But I remember once hand sewing a skirt and wearing it to a family gathering where it broke, and I had to wear my stepdad’s blazer wrapped around as a skirt instead.
Joris: When I was 6 or 7 I made a whole book full of shoe designs for my mom. I also made these topmodel books and would even add prices to my designs: I guess I was already having that fashion brand dream.
Simone: Walking as a 8 year old in Musée Galliera being obsessed with a polka dot dress.
Describe your style in three words.
Feliz Aaliyah: Colorful, sexy, confidence
Mikołaj: Three Different Worlds.
Johanne: Victorian, tiny shoes, unpractical
Joris: Hot, Hotter, Hottest
Simone: Humour, error, contradiction
What do you want people to feel when they wear your clothes?
Feliz Aaliyah: To make them feel the best version of them self and happy and playful and confidence
Mikołaj: Power, energy and confidence.
Johanne: A bit frightened if they will break the garments, only to find out they will not (Cinderella’s shoe didn’t crack even though it was from glass) and hopefully they will have a pleasant escape from their usual attire.
Joris: I want them to feel like they want to go grocery shopping in their thong.
Simone: Themselves.
If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life, who would it be?
Mikołaj: 😉
Johanne: Costume designer Sandy Powell could dress me every day.
Joris: I would wear Feliz Aaliyah Sanchez Buitrago, and feel like a sexy goddess all day every day.
Feliz Aaliyah: I would wear Joris Janssen and feel like a diva every day until the day I die
Simone: Me? 🙂
Do you have any role models, and if so, who are they?
Feliz Aaliyah: Aaliyah (princes of R&B) was my idol and role model for her style of styling. She looked so fly, being a performer and entertainer for life always left an impression on me. I always copied her and made it into my own style.
Mikołaj: 😉
Johanne: My dad I think.
Joris: Since my whole collection is about divas and their function as role models in queer community, it’s quite clear that divas are my role models. If I would have to name one: Mariah Carey because of she’s a great example of someone that doesn’t give a f*ck and tackles critique with humor.
Simone: Still looking for a role model
Mikołaj: Not right now.
Do you have a dream collaborator? This can be someone from art, music, or any other discipline.
Feliz Aaliyah: If she didn’t pass away, it would have been Aaliyah. But I would love a collab with Versace and Tyla, Karol G, Jennifer Lopez, Jade Lauren.
Johanne: I think me and Sandy Powell would hit it off.
Joris: Would love to dress someone like Charli XCX, FKA twigs or Arca one day.
Simone: A collab with the one and only Serena Williams would be amazing.
What do you want to be remembered for?
Feliz Aaliya: For my personal, joyful, and colorful crazy art works and garments.
Mikołaj: Being a nice human being towards other people.
Johanne: Wearing tiny shoes even though it’s minus degrees.
Joris: Crazy thongs.
Simone: The collaboration with Serena Williams.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned during your time at Rietveld?
Feliz Aaliyah: To do whatever, I want to do.
Mikołaj: To put effort.
Johanne: There is always a way to make it happen.
Joris: To choose your own path.
Simone: Trust yourself.
If you had the power to change one thing about Amsterdam, what would it be?
Feliz Aaliyah: That everyone would be respectful and friendly. And nobody would rush like crazy people.
Mikołaj: I’m good.
Johanne: I wouldn’t mind it if it didn’t rain that often…
Joris: Safety for queer people in public spaces.
Simone: I want women to feel free where and when they want.
Where are you most likely to be found in Amsterdam?
Feliz Aaliyah: Fashion Department and Mi CASA!
Mikołaj: Nah.
Johanne: In a specific costume store in their storage but I cannot tell you where it is.
Joris: At the Rietveld academy, working on my grad collection.
Simone: Not a gym.
One message to people coming to the show on May 25th?
Feliz Aaliyah: to be Blown Away & Ready to Party.
Mikołaj: Be ready.
Johanne: It might look fragile, but it isn’t.
Joris: Get ready to be SO OBSESSED.
Simone: Get your flashlights ready.
You can see Feliz Aaliyah’s, Mikołaj’s, Johanne’s, Joris’ and Simone’s work at the Gerrit Rietveld Fashion show on Monday, May 25th 2026. Get your ticket through this link.
