A Brief History of Viktor & Rolf
Dutch fashion designers Victor & Rolf recently unveiled their latest collection, aptly named Vagabonds. Their work uses haute couture techniques to repurpose found materials and fabrics into astounding collages. Many outfits contain elements from Viktor & Rolf’s earlier designs and the pair scoured their back catalogue for inspiration, tearing apart older clothes and then weaving them together. Consequently, their designs appear ad-hoc or improvised, resembling handwoven clothing that was produced out of necessity. This ‘primitive’ aesthetic represents the designer’s unique sense of nostalgia, and coincidentally, their maturity’s relationship with the past.
Victor & Rolf have always been daring fashion designers. In 1998, they put on an unauthorised catwalk presentation during Paris Fashion Week. This show parodied the late twentieth century’s fears and anxieties while challenging haute couture’s standard practises. Models were dressed in oversized outfits, stuffed with balloons, creating a silhouette that resembled the ominous outline of a mushroom cloud. One of these dresses made Time’s picture of the week, drawing Victor & Rolf directly into the limelight.
For them, the catwalk is a laboratory where ideas are tested rather than presented. Often, their contributions to fashion shows turn into full blown performance pieces that combine theatrics with experimentation. In 1999, they presented Russian Doll. This haute couture collection was slowly layered onto model Maggie Rizer, encasing her in dress after dress. Within minutes she was completely immobile and eventually began to resemble an elaborately decorated wooden doll.
While Victor & Rolf originally made clothes that were almost unwearable, they have designed for Nêt-à-Porter and in 2006 teamed up with high street fashion chain H&M. Victor & Rolf saw this collaboration as a marriage between two colourful partners and designed their commissions around this theme. The collection’s outfits are unanimously quaint, bearing heart-shaped motifs and flowing bridal lace. Today, this line has been discontinued but can still be purchased from other fashion dealers.
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.
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