The People of the Labyrinths
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded 📆 | 1984 |
| Founders 👔 | Hans Démoed, Geert de Rooij |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | Arnhem, Netherlands |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Products 📟 | Fashion, accessories, interiors, fragrances |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | [Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). ] |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
The People of the Labyrinths (POTL) is a Dutch fashion label founded in 1984 by designers Hans Démoed and Geert de Rooij. The label became internationally known from the 1980s to the 2000s for its colourful hand-printed textiles, eclectic combinations of patterns and materials, and its rejection of seasonal fashion trends.
The founders met while studying fashion at Arnhem Academy of Art and Design.[1] Since its establishment, The People of the Labyrinths has expanded beyond fashion into interior design, furniture, fragrances, photography and art projects.
History
Hans Démoed and Geert de Rooij founded The People of the Labyrinths in Amsterdam in 1984 after graduating from the Arnhem Academy of Art and Design. Their work quickly distinguished itself from mainstream fashion through its expressive use of colour, elaborate textile prints and handcrafted techniques. Rather than following prevailing trends, the designers developed collections based on their own artistic vision.
During the late 1980s and 1990s the label achieved international recognition. Its collections were presented in major fashion capitals and stocked by luxury retailers worldwide. The company also opened flagship stores and expanded into accessories, home furnishings and fragrances.
The label became known for creating many of its own fabrics using hand-printing techniques. Collections frequently combined historical references with contemporary design, mixing contrasting colours, textures and decorative motifs. Throughout its history, Démoed and De Rooij were outspoken critics of the fashion industry's increasing emphasis on rapidly changing trends and mass production. Instead, they advocated clothing with a longer lifespan and encouraged customers to build wardrobes independent of seasonal fashion cycles.[2]
In 2013 the label returned to Amsterdam Fashion Week with a retrospective presentation highlighting three decades of work and reaffirming its philosophy of timeless design. The following year the company announced that it would discontinue producing conventional seasonal collections. Instead, it shifted its focus towards limited-edition fashion, interior projects, photography and other creative disciplines.[3]
The brand has continued to operate from Arnhem while maintaining its reputation as one of the Netherlands' most distinctive independent fashion labels.
Design philosophy
The People of the Labyrinths developed a distinctive design philosophy based on the combination of fashion, art and craftsmanship. The designers rejected the rapid turnover of seasonal fashion and instead created garments intended as long-lasting artistic objects. Their work is characterized by complex silk-screen prints, hand-dyed fabrics, vivid colour combinations and references to historical, cultural and scientific imagery.
The name of the label refers to the labyrinth as a metaphor for complexity, discovery and multiple layers of meaning. The designers have frequently used labyrinthine structures, symbolic patterns and intricate graphic compositions as recurring elements within their collections.
From the beginning, Démoed and De Rooij produced their own textiles because they were unable to find materials that matched their desired colours and patterns. The label became particularly associated with hand-printing and hand-finishing techniques, which became central to its identity. The company later expanded this approach into furniture, interiors, objects and fragrances.
International recognition
During the late 1980s and 1990s, The People of the Labyrinths gained an international following and was stocked by boutiques and department stores in Europe, North America and Asia. The label became recognized as one of the most distinctive examples of Dutch avant-garde fashion.
The designers' approach attracted attention from collectors and performers who were drawn to the label's theatrical and artistic qualities. The People of the Labyrinths garments were worn by a number of international musicians and entertainers, including Lenny Kravitz and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, reflecting the label's connection with the alternative music scene of the 1990s and early 2000s. Other public figures associated with wearing the label include Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John and Steven Tyler.
Expansion into interiors and other disciplines
Alongside fashion, The People of the Labyrinths developed a broader creative practice including interior design, furniture, photography, objects and perfume. The designers viewed these fields as interconnected parts of a single artistic universe rather than separate commercial categories. Their interior projects continued the same principles found in their clothing collections, including elaborate patterns, strong colour contrasts and handcrafted details.[4]
Legacy
The People of the Labyrinths is regarded as one of the most influential independent Dutch fashion labels of the late twentieth century. Together with designers such as Viktor & Rolf, Iris van Herpen and Alexander van Slobbe, the label contributed to the international reputation of Arnhem as a centre for experimental fashion design.
The label remains notable for its combination of fashion, fine art and craft, and for challenging conventional ideas about fashion production and consumption.
References
- ↑ https://arnhemfashiondesign.nl/en/graduation/1983
- ↑ Basu, Michou (2015-05-05). [hhttps://fd.nl/fd-persoonlijk/1150360/people-of-the-labyrinths "'Waarom zou je de dingen die je leuk vindt uitbesteden?'"]. Financieel Dagblad (in Nederlands).
- ↑ "AFW: Terug in de tijd met POTL, futurisme bij Individuals". FashionUnited. 24 January 2013.
- ↑ "About Us". The People of The Labyrinths.
External links
Category:Dutch designers Category:Dutch fashion designers
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