12 July 2014, Amsterdam
Fashion show: Amsterdam Fashion Week
Spring/Summer 15 collection – SIS by Spijkers en Spijkers – I shall dance all my life
“I shall dance all my life…”
The Spring/Summer 2015 collection takes its name from a quote by Josephine Baker: “I shall dance all my life…” A woman who continues to captivate the imagination, Baker serves as the vibrant muse behind this colorful summer line.
Born in St. Louis, Josephine Baker rose to become the first African-American woman to achieve worldwide fame as an entertainer. In 1925, she moved to France, where her iconic “Danse Sauvage”—performed in her legendary banana skirt—propelled her to international stardom.
Her breakthrough coincided with the landmark Exposition des Arts Décoratifs, the exhibition that gave rise to the term Art Deco. At the same time, Europe experienced a renewed fascination with non-Western art forms, particularly African influences. Josephine embodied this cultural shift and became one of its most striking fashion icons.
During her later performances in Paris, Baker often appeared on stage with her pet cheetah, Chiquita, adorned in a diamond collar. The cheetah would occasionally slip into the orchestra pit, startling the musicians and heightening the sense of spectacle that defined her shows.
Inspired by the spirit of “Danse Sauvage” and infused with a subtle reggae influence, the twins created a vivid color palette and dynamic prints. Playful motifs of dancing figures in banana skirts merge with stylized leopard patterns, forming an exotic yet refined aesthetic.
Alongside elegant color-blocked dresses and bold leopard prints, Spijkers en Spijkers introduce sporty elements: black-and-white eyelet fleece paired with casual cotton twill. Sleek button-down skirts are worn open for a relaxed silhouette, adding a flirtatious, summery ease.
The tale of the cheetah reappears in humorous T-shirt graphics and all-over sweat prints designed for effortless mixing and matching. The show concludes with soft gold and silk-lurex coats and dresses in tiger prints and Art Deco-inspired patchwork portraits—an exuberant and stylish finale that captures the daring glamour of Josephine Baker.
rs en Spijkers close their show with soft gold and silk-lurex coats and dresses in Tiger print and patchwork portraits in Art Deco style. These looks give a stylish and exuberant finale to the show.