AMSTERDAM MODESTAD

Ten leading illustrators, from established icons to up-and-coming talent, show their personal view of Amsterdam as a creative fashion city. The exhibition was curated by curator Anneke Krull, founder of I Love Illustration Gallery, which is also celebrating her gallery's fifth anniversary.

What visitors can expect

XL exhibition in De Passage
Ten unique fashion illustrations are presented in large format as double-sided XL banners in the covered passage of De Hallen Amsterdam — an impressive visual ode to Amsterdam, visible from both entrances.

Pop-up gallery & original artworks
In the first two weeks of the exhibition, the original works will be on display in a specially equipped pop-up gallery in De Hallen. They then move to the permanent location of I Love Illustration Gallery in the small passage of De Hallen. Here, visitors can not only admire the craft up close, but also purchase original works of art, limited editions and card sets.

Live sketching Meet & Greets, & workshops
During the exhibition, public activities take place over the weekends: meet the artists, see how they make live works, have your fashion look captured and participate in workshops. For more info and registration visit: https://iloveillustrationgallery.com/amsterdam-modestad

The illustrators

A 100% Amsterdam line-up — each with its own style and signature:

• Piet Paris — Graphic, elegant and iconic

• Julian Stips — Flamboyant, expressive and theatrical

• Ravian Derrière — Pop art, outspoken and playful

• Soraya Basiran — Edgy, stylish and urban

• Mary B. — Raw, Street, and Graphic

• Boris Lyppens — Futuristic, Mysterious and Narrative

• Floris Felix — Dynamic and Expressive

• Charlotte Greeven — Graceful, classic and sophisticated

• Open Call Talent: Akin James, Ila Dani (professional jury): Piet Paris (Fashion Illustrator), Danie Bles (AFW), Anneke Krull (I Love Illustration Gallery curator), Sophie Coorens (De Hallen communication)

We are proud to announce that Akin James & Ila Dani are the winners of the Open Call for Amsterdam Fashion City!

For this edition, we were specifically looking for a fresh, young voice in the contemporary fashion illustration field — a visual language that feels urgent and relevant.

Akin James is a multidisciplinary maker, born in Curaçao and living in the Netherlands. With his fashion label and illustrations, he explores the power of fashion as a bridge between art, identity and heritage. His work is at the cutting edge of streetwear, storytelling and performance, and is about inclusiveness and cultural connection. In his fashion illustration, the jury found exactly what they were looking for: raw energy, a strong visual language of their own and a powerful visual statement. Rooted in identity, heritage and contemporary fashion, Akin brings an urgent and layered perspective that fits perfectly into the diversity of Amsterdam Fashion City. For him, Amsterdam is a city of contrasts and opportunities — a place where his vision of migration, expression and community comes to life.

In the work of Ila Dani the jury saw an authentic and poetic translation of Amsterdam's streetscape. Her illustration exudes the city's DNA: diverse, playful and full of character. Every detail is right — from the layered styling to subtle references to local streetwear brands like Patta, Atelier Reservé and Daily Paper. Ila's casual lines, soft colors and sharp fashion look combine to form an idiosyncratic style that perfectly matches the zeitgeist and the visual richness of Amsterdam Fashion City. Her signature handwriting was partly born out of necessity: due to an autoimmune disorder, Requilia (alias Ila Dani) experiences chronic pain and loss of strength in her hands, leading to a loose, intuitive drawing style with a 'messy touch' — a style that actually gives her work character and strength.

In addition to Akin James & Ila Dani, three more talents have been selected for Amsterdam Fashion City's Talent Wall: Michelle Amo, who will make a live fashion painting during the opening, Zinaida Kazantseva and Carlos Marlo. Each of them brings a fresh perspective and a unique style - from expressive to sophisticated, conceptual to colorful. Together, these young makers show how rich and diverse the fashion illustration field is today.

Practical information

Location: De Hallen Amsterdam — De Passage & I Love Illustration Gallery
Period: August 30 to September 28, 2025
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 — 18:00
During Amsterdam Fashion Week: daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Opening event: Saturday, August 30, 4:00pm — 7:00pm

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About the initiators

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I Love Illustration Gallery & Agency is the platform for fashion illustration worldwide, based in De Hallen Amsterdam. We present exhibitions in the gallery and at pop-up locations by leading and emerging illustrators, and represent top illustrators for collaborations with brands, both nationally and internationally. Our mission: to make fashion illustration visible, relevant and future-oriented.
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De Hallen Amsterdam: A vibrant cultural center in a former tram depot in Amsterdam-West, where art, craft, fashion, film and hospitality come together. With three million visitors a year, De Hallen is a popular meeting place in the city.