Wilbert Das

{{Infobox fashion designer

|name = Wilbert Das

|image = WD mezzo busto.jpg

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|12|02|df=y}}

|birth_place = Holland

|death_date =

|death_place =

|nationality = Dutch

|education = Academy of Fine Arts in Arnhem

|label_name = Former Creative Director of Diesel

|awards =

|known_for =

|occupation = Fashion designer

|website =

}}

Wilbert Das (born 2 December 1963) is a Dutch fashion designer.

Biography

Wilbert Das spent his formative years working on his parents dairy farm in the small village of Riethoven in the southern Netherlands.Kurihara, Erika, i-D 277. Out of the Blue Issue, June 2007, p. 101 [http://www.i-donline.com/product/277-out-blue-issue] At age 19, he left Riethoven to study fashion design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Arnhem, where he received his diploma in 1988.[http://uk.ykone.com/designers/bio/wilbert-das Ykone Fashion Encyclopedia] Das was intrigued by the revolution that was taking place in Italian fashion; after graduating from Arnhem, Das travelled to Italy for an interview with clothing manufacturer Renzo Rosso, the owner of the fashion brand Diesel.[http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/behind-the-seams-733375 WWD Behind The Scenes, April 2003, p.12-13] Das was offered a job on the spot. In fact, he started working at Diesel that day in the role of assistant male designer on the Male, Accessories, Leather and Kids lines; he was soon directing the style office.The Retail Fuel, Issue 14, 2007, page 12 In 1993, Das was recognized with the title of Creative Director.[http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/behind-the-seams-733375 WWD Behind The Scenes, April 2003, p.12-13][http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/090320-wilbert-das-launches-a-hotel-in-bra.aspx Lauren Milligan, Vogue, March 20, 2009]

Collection Design

During Das' early years with Diesel, the company became most famous for its denim collections.Poyner, Rick, Obey the Giant: life in the image world, August 2001, p. 83 Throughout this time, Diesel used many techniques to age jeans and give them a more vintage feel; this included experimenting with dyes, destruction, movement of pockets, reshaping and introduction of curves.Raper Larenaudie, Sarah. Art Of The Deal: Who Drives Diesel? Time Magazine, September 2006 [https://web.archive.org/web/20070502025136/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1533547-2,00.html]

In subsequent years, and under Das's creative direction, Diesel introduced collections of footwear, eyewear (Diesel Shades), jewellery (Diesel Jewellery), and watches (Diesel Timeframes).The Retail Fuel, Issue 14, 2007, page 13

Communications & Advertising

As well as being responsible for the development of all Diesel's fashion and accessories collection, in his role as Creative Director, Das also oversaw the creative aspects of every Diesel campaign from the time the company began advertising until 2009.Rich Thomaselli, Advertising Age, June 2006, page 19 The influence of Diesel's communications campaigns, published under the umbrella label “For Successful Living”, have won Diesel and Das the Grand Prix, Gold, and ‘Advertiser of the Year’ awards at the International Festival of Advertising at Cannes.[http://www.canneslionsarchive.com/ Cannes Lions Archive 2011]

Wilbert Das

Biography

Collection Design

Communications & Advertising

References

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