SCHMIDT
Studio Reinder Schmidt
ABOUT
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Fashion and the start of his career
Reinder Schmidt (1993) is a Dutch fashion designer and artist born in Arnhem, the Netherlands. He graduated in 2015 from the fashion department at MAFAD, Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design, with a menswear collection based on traditional tailoring, sportswear, and futuristic ideas. During his studies, he researched a new approach on how to make clothes and patterns. At his internship at Pauline van Dongen, he worked on her futuristic collection and wearable solar projects, where this research on a new approach to clothing continued.
After his graduation, he found a job at Arnhem Fashion Group with designers Sebastiaan Kramer and Sjaak Hullekes, where he works as a production manager and product developer. Here, he fell in love with the making process of clothing and the craftsmanship that comes with it. Also, he works for the new label of Sjaak Hullekes called Hul lè Kes. He is part of the design team and is specialized in hand dyeing with natural materials and chemical dyes. Although his own work and aesthetic has been much cleaner and minimal, he can really relate to the brand because of the new approach to how to work in the fashion industry and how to treat clothing. His view on the future of fashion changed during this period and moved from an interest in technological movement to an interest in a future of craftsmanship, sustainability, and a revaluation of handmade clothing, art, and design.
Art and the start of the studio
During his studies, his interest in abstract painting began, but he decided to dedicate all his attention to fashion. While working at Hul le kes, his interest in art and designing things beyond clothing grew. Inspired by the leftover fabrics in the production company, he asked the brands if he could repurpose them. Over the years, he collected various fabric scraps and began sewing them together.
His first artwork was for his own apartment, aiming to showcase his fascination with fashion and textiles without displaying a garment or fashion drawing. The concept was to create a canvas by sewing these small pieces together and then painting it white, like a blank canvas where the making process itself becomes the artwork. The different materials and structures of the fabrics give the work definition and depth, and the paint transforms it from just fabric into an abstract piece of art. The use of a single color allows the viewer to focus on the structure and patterns created by the diverse materials.
All artworks are made from these scraps and leftover pieces of fabric. By sewing them together, these incredible new landscapes come to life. In some pieces, parts of the fabrics are left unpainted, revealing the work's origin and offering a closer look at the concept.
On this website, you will find a selection of available works and locations where you can view them. Custom pieces in specific sizes can also be commissioned. For inquiries or requests, please contact: ​reinderschmidt@gmail.com​
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