http://www.dottirdottir.com
http://www.honnunarmidstod.is
WHAT?
DottirDOTTIR is a pop-up shop that will be open for the month of July 2012 in Mitte, Berlin, Germany. Pop-up shops originate with the Comme des Carçons guerilla shops.
DottirDOTTIR will specialize in Icelandic and Greenlandic fashion design and handicraft from up and coming designers and remote crafters. This will be the first shop of it’s kind in the world.
We apologize for the double naming but we changed our name from dottirSON to dottirDOTTIR when we learned about another project with the same name. We were unable to change the name in all areas of the WeFund page.
CONCEPT:
DottirDOTTIR will be the first pop-up shop in the world where contemporary avant-garde and up-and coming design is exhibited together with handicraft rooted in ancient tradition and workmanship. By doing this we are putting the handicraft on the pedestal it belongs and emphasizing the quality of the design. The designers have put careful thought into the cut, material, concept and more often that not it also includes handicrafted details.
In our search for new meaning and context we want to display the craft and design from the northwest together with a few handselected items from other parts of the world. What we want to show is that Nordic design has much more to offer that common stereotypes of nude colors and streamlined appearance. We want to show the experimental, sensual and the surprising side.
WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF SUPPORTING US?
The designers are designing special limited edition objects for those who pledge to the project. It will not be available in any other context so this is a unique opportunity to become owner of a colletors item. For those who want to contribute higher amounts we will have items from the designers collections.
If you are on your way to Berlin next summer you will be part of rare, beautiful and unique but we plan to have a lot of interesting events connected to the pop-up.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
Icelandic design has become cutting-edge in the last few years without having the backup system that other Nordic countries like Denmark and Sweden enjoy and that have made Danish and Swedish design famous worldwide. The designers themselves have, with their hard work, created the scene and a name for themselves in the international fashion media. We find this remarkable and something to support. Icelandic fashion design is mostly unknown in Germany and we want to break the ice.
Another reason is more down to earth. Greenland and Iceland are at the northwest periphery of Europe together populated by less than 400.000,- people. Although considered part of the Nordic countries these countries are in many ways world apart from their mainland neighbors. Both Greenland and Iceland enjoy extreme geographical isolation from other countries, the weather conditions are hard and both were a colony of Denmark well into the 20th century placing the countries in a special condition of post-colonial struggles and unbalanced economical developments. Today both countries face extreme economical difficulties making each individual life a struggle. In the face of those difficulties art and design can become a much welcome escape but also a possible key for a more prosperous future.
WHAT DO THE DESIGNERS GET OUT OF THE PROJECT?
The pop-up shop is a grasroot initiative and organised to serve the goals of the designers and the crafters. Our main goal is to reach fashion professionals that will visit the Showroom part of the Berlin Fashion Week in the 2nd week of July. We are thinking about the pop-up shop functioning as an Ice breaker for the designers and crafters to reach German and international audience.
It is important to be in the right place and the right time but also to collaborate with those that have expert knowledge and access to our target group.
We are collaborating with and/or in good contact with a lot of experts and professionals in the relevant fields. Here in Berlin we are collaborating with a PR agency that has access to the fashion professionals and journalists.
WHY ARE WE DOING CROWD-FUNDING?
We have a lot of support. In Iceland we are collaborating with Iceland Design Center. But as said earlier there is lack of funding in Iceland to support the hard working up and coming designers. We don’t have the long term funding infrasctructure that designers in other Nordic countries have. It is also not reallistic to count on sales as a source for covering cost. That experience in Berlin has shown of previous pop-up shops. They function more as a showroom.
Budget includes 3500 euros for rent of space in Mitte, Berlin which is the right place to reach our target group. PR cost is similar. Then we also have to cover cost of transport, setting up the shop, etc. We are looking for private sponsorship but having a base through crowd funding will get us a long way.
WHO ARE WE?
The project was born out of the mind of Berlin-based, Reykjavik-bred artist, designer, filmmaker Hulda Ros Gudnadottir. See www.huldarosgudnadottir.is. She is the Project and Art Director.
Berlin-based artist Andrea Elsper (video) helped kickstart the project.
Berlin-based, Reykjavik-bred violinist Gudny Gudmundsdottir is Project Producer.
Thingeyri-based, Copenhagen-bred Janne Kristenssen is Curator for the Westfjord, Iceland, handcraft part of the project
The staff at Iceland Design Center are also contributing work to promote the project.
We are currently in the process of recruiting more staff.
Gudnadottir
Hulda Ros Gudnadottir has more experience than art. She has e.g. worked in the exhibition department at the Reykjavik Art Museum and is the founder and director of DIONYSIA, artist-run residency, in Westfjords, Iceland. Hulda has worked as a project manager and as a film director. As a filmmaker she has won many awards. Hulda has a MA degree in interactive design. She has five solo exhibitions behind her in Reykjavik, Barcelona and Berlin and has participated in numerous group exhibitions. Last year a book was published a about her work by Program, Berlin. Hulda also has a BA degree in anthropology specialising in visual anthropology, e.g. handicraft. She has been based in Berlin for a period of three years in total since 2006.
Gudmundsdottir
Berlin-based Gudmundsdottir is the co manager of Spott Box creative space in Berlin for designers and the director of the renowned Icelandic Chamber Music Festival. www.musicfest.is . She has extensive experience with leading low-budget creative projects.
Kristensen
Westfjords based Kristensen is the owner of Simbahollin, a historical house in the village of Thingeyri that has been renovated and turned into a café/handcraft center in the area. She was the Programme co-ordinator of the last Reykjavik International Film Festival and is hosting the DIONYSIA residency programme this year. She has also worked for CPH:Docs.
http://www.dottirdottir.com
http://www.honnunarmidstod.is
http://vimeo.com/21641947
http://www.mundivondi.net
http://eyglocollection.com
http://beroyalextreme.com
http://www.shadow-creatures.com
http://www.disdis.com
http://www.vimeo.com/14614676?ab
http://www.vimeo.com/10548843?ab
http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/8859/1/mundi-vondis-r...
