Tuesday 23.march 2010
An explosive end to Reykjavík Fashion Festival!
Designer: Mundi. Photo: Gudmundur Oddur Magnusson
Designer: Emami Photo: Friðrik Örn
As the final preparations for day two of Reykjavik Fashion Festival (RFF) were taking place, Iceland experienced the first eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in nearly 200 years. An unexpected finale to the hugely successful inaugural celebration of Icelandic music and fashion, as well as a reminder of the unique and unpredictable environment which has given birth to the country's unique talent.
Conceived as a platform to promote Iceland's young but growing fashion industry, RFF was established by the country's foremost creative business leaders to showcase talent on a local and international level. Closely working with music promoters Faxaflói / Great Bay, the RFF added music to the fashion mix for a unique combination of music and fashion.
Held at the O.J. Kaaber House, a commanding disused industrial space near the heart of Reykjavik, the two days of fashion shows provided a showcase of the hottest young Icelandic designers and labels, including Nikita, Mundi, E-Label and Birna.
Go With Jan & Thelma Design Photo: Friðrik Örn
The music programme was headlined on the Saturday by Canadian electro-diva Peaches, who put on a legendary show at NASA. Costume changes, lasers, surreal dancers and plenty of crowd surfing gave Reykjavik the perfect excuse to party. Also playing over the weekend were the hottest Icelandic bands, including local heroes GusGus, electronic popsters Bloodgroup and rising stars Sykur.
Reykjavik Fashion Festival will return even bigger and better, but hopefully without volcanic eruptions, in 2011.
