Shopping in Amsterdam? Visit the OntFront Store!

Dutch menswear label OntFront opens their first brand store in Amsterdam at Haarlemmerdijk 121.

OntFront is contemporary designer brand for men, founded by the passionate entrepreneurs Tomas Overtoom and Liza Koifman. They’ve been creating collections since 2007 for the style conscious man with a rebellious touch—the bad boy and the gentleman. After fashion shows in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Shanghai and several pop up stores, the time has come for the official opening of the first OntFront brand store.

The interior of the store reflects the character of OntFront perfectly: smart with a rugged twist. Espresso brown walls give a warm yet manly feel. The golden clothing racks (designed by architect ADA design) float above the collections as crowns of kings.

At the entrance, a large picture of a Zazou is portrayed: a dandy rebel from Paris in 1944. The Zazous were an infamous subculture during the Second World War. These youngsters showed their identity and vision on life through clothing and slick hairdos. It was the time of bebop and swing jazz. The Zazou represents everything that OntFront stands for: style, music, originality, vision and creativity.

Next to the collections of OntFront, accessories, shoes and perfume are being sold from labels like Spyker, United Nude, Van Well, Filling Pieces, Gourmet, Fromanteel, Von Eusersdorff and Pasotti Ombrelli. You can also find a classic bebop hat, tie, or bow tie. All must-haves to go through life as a modern Zazou.

See more shots of the store here.



Photos & text Copyright OntFront.

Slava Zaitsev: the Glory of Russian Fashion

Several days ago, I covered the most recent edition of Ukraine’s Lviv Fashion Week, which was launched for the first time in March 2009.

Special guest at the event was Russian couturier, Vyacheslav Zaitsev; otherwise known as Slava, which means ‘glory’ in Russian.

The organizers of Lviv Fashion Week just sent me the photo gallery of Slava Zaitsev’s 2010 autumn/winter collection, which present at the event.

I hope you enjoy the show!

For further information on Slava and his son, please refer to the following articles:

Slava Zaitsev and the Glory of Russia Fashion Week
Grigor Zaitzev—A Sunbeam of His Father’s Glory.



Photo & slideshow Courtesy & Copyright Lviv Fashion Week.

“Shift Gear” with Ontfront

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! If you love racing, OntFront’s “Shift Gear” must hit that racing bug.

Beautiful black, stream-lined cars and lots of horsepower was the inspiration for OntFront’s fifth collection, ‘“Shift Gear”.

“I’ve always had a love for the aesthetics of car design. Spyker, Lamborghini …The aerodynamic lines and forms of fast cars are the basis for this collection of OntFront.” Head Designer, Liza Koifman

The 68-piece collection, which consists of jackets, t-shirts, jeans, shirts, and unique blazers, is primarily made with dark colours like asphalt and car tire black, with highlights in red and eggplant colour. The Italian and French imported materials are high in quality being both ‘water resistant’ and breathable.

Lookbook “Shift Gear”

Lookbook by Marnix Postma, Copyright OntFront.

Ontfront (Fall/Winter 2010-2011)
from JAN (JustAnotherNerd) on Vimeo.
Director - Tjeerd Braat
D.O.P. - Marnix Postma (www.marnixpostma.com)
Animation & Editing - Tjeerd Braat (tjeerd@justanothernerd.nl)
Track - Curtamos - Trouble (www.curtamos.com)
Sound FX - Christian Cardenas (www.sparkbeatz.com)
Models: Erasmus @ Ulla Models & Matthieu @ Name models

Text by Ajanaku & photo top center, Copyright OntFront.

Grigor Zaitzev—A Sunbeam of His Father’s Glory

Another Russian designer at the recent edition of Russia Fashion Week was Grigor Zaitsev—son of the most famous of all Russian designers, Slava Zaitsev!

Sketching from an early age, Grigor completed his studies in 1983 and immediately joined his father’s Fashion House.

There, Grigor designed many costumes for theatre, cinema, and the circus, as well as famous musicians. Clearly, Grigor and his designs are deeply influenced by the Russian Rock Revolution of the 1980’s.

Not only rejoicing with but also instrumental in the fall of the Soviet Regime, Grigor now welcomes a new generation of artistic designers, despite the current arduous times.

Photo top left 2010 s/s collection, Courtesy & Copyright Russian Fashion Week.
Photo bottom center Grigor Zaitsev, Courtesy & Copyright Grigor Zaitsev.

From Congo to Russia—Stella Ndombi

Stella Ndombi is an acclaimed model in the Russian fashion industry.

She was born and raised in Brazzaville—the capital of the Republic of Congo—in a family of French diplomats.

At the age of seven, Stella’s family moved to Paris and then to Moscow, which has since become her new home.

In Moscow, a Russian stylist and fashion designer known as “Alisher” discovered the exotic beauty of Stella and led her to fame as one of Russia’s Top 10 models.

Soon afterward, Stella became one of Russia’s Top fashion designers.

At the most recent edition of Russian Fashion Week, which was held in Moscow April 1-6, Stella presented “Boxer’s Second Skin”—her first joint collection with Alisher.

This 2010 autumn/winter collection resulted from the arena of martial arts with all of its adrenaline-arousing silks, leathers, and furs.

This winter, be a winner with Alisher! And be a champ with Stella Ndombi!



Photo & slideshow 2010 autumn/winter collection Copyright Stella Ndombi .

“Shift Gear” in Autumn/Winter 2010 by Ontfront

Racecars assembled at the starting line, motors revving up into a thunderous roar—it’s “Shift Gear” in gear with OntFront, men’s sidewalk-tailored street gear!

The flag goes down in a whoosh; the cars peel out in a screech, winding around the track—it’s January 30 at Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

Like a true carrozzeria (‘coachbuilder’), Ontfront has assembled for autumn/winter 2010 a collection of 68 pieces, all inspired by the world of Italian car racing—streamlined, aerodynamic, and trophy-garnering models!

If you are living the fast life, travelling, racing, and going out—Ontfront is the bad-boy gentleman label for you!



Photos by Peter Stigter, 2010 a/w collection, Copyright OntFront.

How CHICKENSHIT can Save Your Nossse

Save Your Nossse was established last year in St. Petersburg, Russia, by one of the designers of CHICKENSHIT.

In a similar way to the label from the chicken coop, Save Your Nossse collaborates with famous fashion photographers from around the world in the design and production of handkerchiefs.

The first collection of handkerchiefs were produced in partnership with the renowned Swedish photographer, Knotan, and was presented in Stockholm at his exhibition entitled MeMeMe.



Photo & slideshow Copyright Save Your Nossse.

CHICKENSHIT: a New Artistic Medium

Although chicken shit dates back as far as the bird itself, CHICKEN-SHIT as a label was born in 2006.

Strange in name and aggressive in mood—or should I say, aggressive in name and strange in mood—whichever way, CHICKENSHIT specializes in t-shirts that are dedicated to famous fashion designers.

Based in St. Petersburg, Russia, CHICKENSHIT specializes in all areas of art and design, including exhibitions, installations, performances, and parties.

The first collection of clothing was launched in 2008, at which time CHICKENSHIT featured “Favorite Scandinavian Photographers,” such as Knotan—one of the most famous in Sweden—presenting 52 of his photos, as well as a series of designs for clothing.

Directed by two brothers, Alexander and Slava, CHICKENSHIT has recently entered into collaboration with Diana Luganski of Finland.

Finally, CHICKENSHIT is art!



Photo White No. Collection by CHICKENSHIT.
Slideshow Copyright CHICKENSHIT.