Michael van der Meide (Hellevoetsluis, January 3 1973)
Started to study fashion at the age of seventeen at the Tailoring School in The Hague from 1990 till 1994. Here he specialised in mens tailoring finishing his exam in 1994 with a mixed collection on the French Revolution called Peacock people…
Then he studied at the CHARLES MONTAIGNE Fashion Academy (AMFI) in Amsterdam from 1994 till 1998. Finishing his exam in 1998 with a womenswear collection inspired by movement, drape and classic tailoring called Dynamic flows… During his study at the fashion academy Michael worked as a trainee for the British Queen of fashion VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, HUSSEIN CHALAYAN and Dutch masters of Couture FRANK GOVERS, FRANS MOLENAAR and AZIZ BEKKAOUI. After his graduation Michael starts to work in sales and as a window-dresser for DOM interior & lifestyle store and designer boutique PRAGUE till 2003. On January 1, 2004 he starts his label MICHAEL VAN DER MEIDE.
Immediately making name with his poetic (AIR) collection Just three more miles to go… Michael draped vintage silk parachutes into imposing dresses through lightness and fluidity. They transformed moving by the wind on the girls ‘flying’ at the Festival in Hyeres 2004 winning Michael two major design awards: the HENRI BENDEL Award (New York, America) and the PUNTOSETA Award. (Como, Italy)
In collections after nature’s element AIR… EARTH, WATER, FIRE and SPIRIT form the starting point. His fifth element (SPIRIT) collection called Elements of magic… for Spring/Summer 2012 is present at the Pret-a-Porter in Paris sept. 2011. ,,I like to create worlds an atmosphere that tell a story inspired by nature, women, art, film, culture, history and life… ,,Seeing beauty in things that had a life and transform in a new”.
His work and sensibility is based on Haute Couture cut, drape, embroidery, handcrafted textile, photorealist print and jacquard design combined with classic tailoring.
Michael has a great technical ability, incredible attention to detail and is master of drape. Intuitively he searches, plays, folds and drapes 3-D shapes on the stand with the dynamic of fabric to create movement. Like day and night… his poetic style is dark or light.
Photo by Stephan VanFleteren