Tom Van Der Borght live-streamed impactful show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin

Stuck indoors and suffering from zoom fatigue?  

We all need some positive inspiration during these unusual times and that’s what the Belgian designer Tom Van der Borght, 42, has given us - in the form of a dramatic live-streamed show with a difference featuring colourful, fanciful hand-crafted details on tribal silhouettes at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

This Autumn/Winter 2021 menswear presentation held on 18th January was entitled “Seven Ways To Be TVDB / Act 3: A Hopeful Parade” encompassing 21 ensembles including 14 new looks as well as 7 reworked looks from Tom's “7 ways to be TVDB" presentation last autumn in the 35th Hyères Festival 2020, in which he won the Première Vision Grand Jury Prize in the fashion category and the City of Hyéres Public Prize, held in October 2020 in Villa Noailles, the cultural and art center of Hyères in the French Riviera.

In the Berlin catwalk performance this month, Tom continues to develop his powerful message through colourful, impactful and creative silhouettes, combining once again High-Tech Bricolage and haute couture savoir faire.  

Staged in collaoration with French-Spanish dancer, choreographer and director Blanca Li, Tom's audience-free show took place in a former power station (also known as "Kraftwerk")

The models moved along the catwalk as if taking part in a procession. They were met by a group of performers, who took on a variety of forms - from workers with the face of the designer to muscular, fantastical-looking figures of horses. 

The climax of the show reflects Tom Van der Borght's artistic vision of an inclusive universe.

"The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin always means the "next step" for Hyeres festival winners and I'm very excited and happy to take part. I cannot wait to share my larger collection with the audience. 

"Especially in these times, I think it's important to share an artistic vision of hope and non-conformity. For me, limitations are always the best opportunities for creativity, so I also consider the concept of a digital performance as a great chance to show fashion in a different way and context. I really love that, thanks to the livestream, everybody will be able to watch the show, and not just invited people, like it would be under regular circumstances. I believe in my progressive vision and that my message of hope and loving yourself will come across strongly", commented Tom Van der Borght.