Henrik Vibskov

High Quality, HENRIK VIBSKOV Fall-Winter 2009 . 2010 Mens Backstage Pictures

Danish designers have been repeatedly left apart by the media and the big buyers - they have focused their attention in places like Stockholm or Antwerp, not paying attention to the growing labels of Denmark. Of course there were some exceptions as the magnificent and always loved Henrik Vibskov and acclaimed Jens Laugesen, but the general consensus was that Denmark wasn’t producing as many talented artists as Sweden or Belgium. Luckily for every struggling designer in Denmark, and also for those who are already at the very top, things are starting to change since the Copenhagen Fashion Week ended marvelously yesterday.

The main attraction was Henrik Vibskov, but other newcomers received as much attention as he did. It was assumed that he would be the center of attention since he was practically entirely responsible for the event’s success. He was the designer who caused all the buzz and media stir over the past months, and he was the one for whom many buyers and critics decided to flew over to Copenhagen.

The Copenhagen Fashion Week wasn’t like the other ones, it was different. Instead of being a place were designers fully present their new lines and arrange meetings with diverse buyers and so, it was more of a celebration. Why? Because all of the iconic designers had already presented their lines somewhere else or were about to at bigger shows, so there wasn’t no need for them to assist the event. It was as if all the major names had decided to help the event organizers and Denmark itself by promoting its domestic fashion market.

After such a great week, I’m sure that everybody will anxiously look forward to assist next year.

I love pixels. I love color. I love fun. I love innovation. I love the Henrik Vibskov Fantabulous Fantasy Bicycle Music Factory!

His new line was more audacious than ever. The urban avant-garde designer unleashed a great deal of joyful modernism on the runway, and astutely captivate the attention of “Paris”. The spring 2008 menswear collection evokes the use of pixels as the signature “thing” of it. Why? ‘cause pixels are the new stripes. Many designers and labels whose runway presentations are full of color and craziness, such as Sonia Rykiel, Cassette Playa, and now Hernik, are including pixilated garments on their collections. And do not get confused, these aren’t little squares, they are pixels!.

What Henrik did about this pixel trend was giving it a bit of a computerized flavor. Meaning that the prints on his designs look like a piece of an 80s video game. He induced fun, but basing his prints on joyful artifacts like video games.

On Hernik’s presentation everything is about having fun or at least oozing some of it. Therefore, instead of sending pale models down the runway, he - and by he I mean some make-up artist - put some dense Californian tan make up on them, so his boys looked as if they were just back from the beach.

Henrik Vibskov is the living proof that Denmark has a lot to offer the fashion scene.

Hernik's menswear collection portrays the glorious clash between Europe's modernism and America's audacious hipsters. Being, what we could call, a urban avant-garde designer, but without having the "infectious" Galliano bug, Hernik has lately risen onto a fashion pedestal. Determination - above everything - and a vast desire for creating joyful garments for the young and fun, like himself, was what catapulted Henrik into an immediate success.

Having opened his first store ever last year in Copenhagen, Henrik has the nerves for everything and portrays designs so edgy and calamitous that many dare to respect them. Last season, a creamy orange sort-of-penis with a smiling face and two captive little eyes came down the runway. Amusement was all over the scene, and believe or not no-one profoundly complained, because after all everyone knew there was going to be a relevant group of kids who would wear proudly that t-shirt. Their criticism was more than adequate, because not only the kids desired to purchase the weird looking t-shirt, but online stores like "Aloha Rag" and "Seven New York" begun carrying it.

Some other stuff made by him is way to ordinary for taste, but it's a magnificent idea to include these common pieces on his line because they balance it and disrupt - what some may call - a style chaos. A prominent future lies ahead of young Danish Henrik, and many are already getting jealous.