HYPEBEAST Road Trips Amsterdam: The ByBorre Atelier

The history of knitting dates back almost 800 years and has been a mainstay within fashion for many decades. Yet many could argue that only recently has the time-honored form truly moved into a new era thanks to the development of new-age machines, a desire for sustainability and above all else, ideas. One of the innovators behind the evolution of knitting is Dutch designer Borre Akkersdijk. His approach to circular knitting and 3D knitting has brought forth a new-found appreciation of the art form as well as the ability to current designs never previously possible. Colorful interpretations featuring interwoven colors are a mainstay within much of Akkersidjk’s work under his label ByBorre. As we visited his atelier, we gained a better understanding of the small, yet intimate operation he runs. A sample room and bolts and bolts of fabric — some of which created within a short train ride in Holland — fill the space. With a growing allegiance of fans and admirers, the next step for ByBorre has been to take the analog world of knit and pair it with digital sensibilities. This further approach to wearable technology is something that many suggest is the tip of the iceberg as we began to demand much more from our wearables and not just functionality. With an inherent fashion element as part of ByBorre’s DNA, you could argue that Akkersidjk’s upcoming work is something that needs to be seen.

For our third installment of HYPEBEAST Road Trips, we continued our journey with cultural connector and creative Toon fan, Simon Wainwright, Nicole Fung of That Food Cray !!! and writer Joy Yoon (author of The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas). We explored the known and unknown parts of Amsterdam to uncover new adventures and take a deep look into the culture of the city. It’s preserving the old with the new, which serves as the idyllic and inventive background many associate with present day Amsterdam. Big thanks go out to Warsteiner, Onitsuka Tiger and the Dylan Hotel for their support in this opportunity.

Stay tuned over the course of the next few days as we highlight food, fashion, design and more. Check for more HYPEBEAST Road Trips adventures here.