When science met fashion
As both an artist and researcher, Frederik De Wilde often comes across graphically intriguing images. About six months ago, he began transferring those images to fashion, and the Electron collection was born: a series of silk scarves with computer-generated designs. Together with his partner, Leen Vandereyken, he launched the label 2Flamingos.
Silk and software combine in the striking new brand 2Flamingos
“While working with code, programming and generative art, I realised I wanted to do something with some of the images I was creating,” says De Wilde. “I thought it would be interesting to introduce a combination of art and science into the world of fashion by printing these special images on silk scarfs. As Leen and I don’t have a background in fashion, scarves seemed the best option to start with. They’re also the closest alternative to an actual canvas.” The label name, meanwhile, conjures colour, beaches and heat. “I loved that name as soon as Frederik mentioned it,” Vandereyken says. “We’re both into the Miami vibe.”
The first collection was baptised Electron and features nine intricate designs, printed on either the shiny or the matte side of a silk scarf. While Vandereyken takes care of marketing, De Wilde developed the first range of prints.
“They’re all images of things you can’t normally see, like the grooves on a vinyl record,” De Wilde explains. “To create the print, I’ve used a raster electron microscope and enhanced the captured images with a custom-made software program.”
With a natural affinity for combining the arts and the sciences, De Wilde’s interests and quests have landed him some top collaborations. “I’ve been doing some research into the blackest black colour in association with the Rice University in Texas,” he reveals. “We’ve used carbon nanotubes to catch light. The next steps in the process happened with Nasa. We’ve had a breakthrough, and soon we will present the first blackest of black nano sculpture.”
It’s another example of how science and art can be united. But don’t let this scientific aspect put you off. The Electron collection is a very wearable series of scarves, with intriguing patterns and different colour sets.
“In the future, we’d like 2Flamingos to become a hub for new media artists and scientists,” says Vandereyken. And there are already plenty of ideas for the future. “We could use existing images of an artist,” De Wilde offers as an example of further forays into fashion. “We could also manipulate some images, and we could even commission the artist to try something new. Whatever the procedure, the outcome has to be fashion.”
In doing so, the Brussels-based label plans to take the industry to another level. “The first collection was all about the image. But through experimenting we can work on the material as well,” De Wilde explains. “At the same time, it will be an unusual experience for the collaborating artists and scientists as they will see their work translated to fashion as well.”
The Electron collection was launched just last month. At €130-€150, the scarves are not inexpensive but are all designed by De Wilde and made entirely in Flanders. They are sold on the 2Flamingos website as well as in Antwerp’s Seven Rooms. So far, reactions have been promising. “Customers seem to like the authenticity and the story behind the scarves,” De Wilde says. “And we’ve had some good reviews from people in the industry. It’s a great compliment to see that our take on science, art and fashion seems to work.”
