edumacation: part 2

i first stumbled across the amazing designs of haider ackerman after worshiping at the alter that is the seven new york website. they continue to be one of the most progressive boutiques in the country, bringing in international labels like bless and cassette playa as well as forward thinking designers like bernard wilhelm and gareth pugh.


haider spent his youth in ethiopia, chad and algeria as the adopted child of french amnesty international workers. spending his teenage years in france and the netherlands ackerman grew up drawing inspiration from both the powerful women of the west as well as the tradition bound women of various african cultures. after two years at the prestigious royal academy in belgium (a school that has turned out some of the most radical designers in the game including ann demuelemeester, dries van noten and martin margiela)he was encouraged by fellow student raf simons (who later took the jil sander house by storm) to strike out on his own.

what is most intriguing about ackerman's collections are the sharp contrasts between hard, precise lines and heavy, loose draping. it seems to be all at once expressing extreme power and an inviting softness.


spring/summer 2004














autumn/winter 2005














autumn/winter 2007














spring/summer 2008














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