Celebrating Fashion Designer Percy Irausquin

Before his tragic death in August 2008, Percy Irausquin was tipped to become the leading fashion designer in the Netherlands. His designs were celebrated for their flowing elegance, original cuts and soft, deep palate cloths that simultaneously embodied modern high fashion and urbane culture. Irausquin created unique wardrobes that appealed to many celebrities and his dresses appeared at events and fashion shows across Europe.
Irausquin was born and raised on the Caribbean Island of Aruba. As this small territory is still governed by the Netherlands, Irausquin was able to attend university in Amsterdam and enrolled in the Gerrit Rietveld Academie after he graduated high school. At this prestigious institute, Irausquin learnt the foundations of his craft, and eventually finished his fashion degree. Afterwards, he continued his studies at the Fashion Institute Arnhem, and in 2001 was nominated for the Robijn Fashion award. A year later he received the Frans Molenaar Couture award and was then soon picked up by Christian Lacroix.

While working with Lacroix’s esteemed designers, Irausquin began to attract the attention of the international fashion world. He released several acclaimed collections between 2002 and 2003, including designs that paid homage to Aruban culture. In 2008, Suzie Templeton wore one his designs to the Oscars, walking down the red carpet in floor-length, crimson evening gown. Later that year Irausquin presented his creations at Amsterdam Fashion Week revealing his work to universal acclaim. Elle and Marie Claire featured his work on their covers, and Vogue named him as one of the most promising figures in the fashion industry.

Irausquin had an amazing eye for contours, and created beautifully-shaped outfits. These dresses and suits used clever design to channel natural movements, exuding grace and sophistication. Although Irausquin was known for his simple, subtle designs he also experimented with silhouettes, making glamorous dresses that flared outwards at the shoulders and hips. These designs perfectly balanced extravagant shapes with modest patterns, successfully treading the fine line between elegance and opulence.

For Irausquin, fashion was about refinement rather than innovation, and most of his work was deliberately uncomplicated. He designed clothes for modern, cosmopolitan women, using his talents to develop a distinctive style that seamlessly mixed haute-couture with prêt-à-porter. Many of Irausquin’s creations found their way into high-profile celebrities’ wardrobes, and he was commissioned by Dutch starlet Katja Shuurman to design her wedding dress.
His sudden, accidental death was deeply mourned by the global fashion community and his tragically short career continues to garner exceptional praise.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.