Frans Molenaar (11 May 1940 – 9 January 2015, Amsterdam) studied to become a tailor in the 1950s and went on to work with Charles Montaigne and Gerard Pipart at Nina Ricci in the early 1960s in Paris. He opened his first shop on the Van Baerlestraat in Amsterdam in 1967 and went on to design glassware, bikes, glasses, chairs and a version of the Ford Ka as well as clothing. Knighted in 1995, Molenaar launched his own award, the ‘Frans Molenaar Prijs’, for young fashion talent. His customers included Dutch royalty and film stars.This year he would have presented his 100th collection.
Couturier Mart Visser told national broadcaster NPO Radio 1 on Monday that Molenaar was a pioneer in the Dutch fashion world known for his “architectural style” of clothes.
As a graphic designer i appreciate the recognizable geometric black and white graphic motifs and patterns.
Sources:
www.dutchNews.nl
Illustrations by Linda Zoon
www.lindazoon.nl
