2_4_DiscoverBenelux_Issue20_August_2015_Q10.qxp_Scan Magazine 1 24/07/2015 17:31 Page 23
Discover Benelux & France | Dress to Impress | Fashion & Accessories
Handmade leather aprons to roar about TEXT: BERThE vAN DEN huRK | PhoTos: WITLoFT
“The first time I put on a welding apron, I wanted to roar,” says Frank Abbenhuis, owner of WITLOFT. “I felt more manly, like I could do this project. But I immediately thought the apron could be improved and better looking. So I started to create them myself.” And so he did. Within the surprisingly short period of nine months, Abbenhuis managed to get his products in the picture: his aprons have appeared in a Dutch Vodafone commercial, the Dutch television show Grill Masters, and are sold at the Bijenkorf, a Dutch luxury department store in Amsterdam.
with a Dutch leather manufacturer. The Netherlands has some great leather manufactures and I want to be closely involved with the process.” The aprons get more beautiful with time and wear. As a result WITLOFT aprons are not only functional, but also true eye-catchers. The aprons can be custom made, by adding your company’s logo and a unique look. Abbenhuis: “The aprons are versatile and for anyone professionally or just at home. Whether you work as a barber or create a seven course meal at home.” www.wit-loft.com
WITLOFT creates handmade aprons from high quality vegetable tanned saddle leather. Originating from a love for cooking, barbequing and furniture making, Abbenhuis wants to go back to the basics with his products. Abbenhuis uses leather from the Netherlands and the aprons are made by hand, which means each apron is unique. What’s more, Abbenhuis still creates the aprons himself, in his garden shed. “That is starting to change, but I still check every apron,” says Abbenhuis. “Handcrafted fits the current zeitgeist. I work
Printed glamour TEXT: MYRIAM GWYNNED DIJCK | PhoTos: LARA BoMMARTINI - YouRsTYLE FoToGRAFIE. MuA & hAIR: LEvENT CEBEN - hAIRsTYLIsT vIsAGIsT MoDEL: NIKITA PAAuWE
Eye-catching and glamorous jewellery does not by any means have to include diamonds and pearls. With just one glance at Dario Scapitta’s distinctive and contemporary body ornaments, it is clear that elegance can be achieved by combining innovative materials with bold designs. Scapitta creates his collections of necklaces and bracelets with high-tech 3D printing technology. By using materials such as printed metal, nylon plastics and gold plated steel in his designs, any wearer will stand out from the crowd – in the best possible way. “Nylon is light and comfortable, and the use of metal detailing gives my pieces a distinct touch of glamour. They are easy to combine with different outfits and are also very wearable,” Scapitta says. “3D technology is perfect for an independent designer like me, both to test
new items and put them into production and it allows for interesting shapes.” The designer, originally from Italy and now based in the Netherlands, has recently released two evolution series on previous collections called SNAKE_evo and SPARKLING_evo. They are updated collections with different colour schemes and new materials.
wood in his creations. “I want to experiment more with the combination of 3D printing and traditional materials so I can continue to create unique pieces.” www.darioscapittadesign.com
He says: “SNAKE_evo was inspired by modern sculptural architecture combined with indigenous African cultures, which has led to sleek lines and striking colours. The inspiration for SPARKLING_evo actually comes from the bubbles of Prosecco; simple but elegant.” Already thinking about his future collections, Scapitta is currently developing ways to incorporate materials such as leather, fabric or even
sNAKE_evo
sPARKLING_evo
Issue 20 | August 2015 | 23