‘For the black collection I tried to use many techniques and fabrics to symbolize the different layers of society. I have a top saying in the front: ‘I’ll suck your dick!’ and in the back it says: ‘Lick my clit’, as nothing comes for free in this world. The logo I made for the underwear collection says ‘Fist Fucking God’s Planet’ and refers to all the big egos in this world who are at each others throat and in our ongoing craving for more, more and more. We are all laughing while fucking up this planet.’

In 2015 fashion designer Lantink and photographer Jan Hoek travelled to South Africa to start their project 'Sistaaz of the Castle', on the aesthetics and appearance of_ _the transgender sex-worker community in Cape Town. In close collaboration with the local transgender support group Sistaazhood –made possible by sex-worker organization SWEAT– Lantink and Duran transform their appearances into fashion icons, through the creation of a fashion collection and photo series. The collection traveled from South Africa to the Netherlands and was presented at the International Amsterdam Fashion Week.

Bio - Duran Lantink is an artist and a stylist: ‘I focus on mixed media with fashion and my work usually consists of attracting opposites.’ Among others, his clients are de Bijenkorf, Solar, Tommy Hilfiger, Vogue, Babylon, 3D Printshow UK, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. He has had expositions in during the Dutch Design Week 2013, the Mode Biennale Arnhem 2013, at Design Centre of London 2013, Coursell de Louvre Paris 2014 and Metropolitan New York 2014.

Students react to Duran Lantink's lecture with an artwork presented at the entrance hall of the academy

The big pieces of black and slightly red, self-dyed cotton represent the layers of society that artist Lantink elaborates in his collection. The "black collection" was inspiration for me to create these abstract fabric columns that breathe when people pass. The pink middle fabric between the big columns, takes the form of the female genitalia and proposes a connection to the transgenders Lantnik was inspired by. — by Leonie Schneider