On Wednesday 3 September, Lichting 2025 took place at Circa Amsterdam, marking the 19th edition of the platform that spotlights the Netherlands’ most promising design graduates. Set under the monumental dome of the contemporary, multidisciplinary space, the evening brought together fashion, art and performance, offering a fitting stage for a generation eager to challenge boundaries. Ten selected alumni from across Dutch fashion academies faced the public for the first time, following an intense morning of closed-door pitches before an international jury.
By extending its reach through an open call to graduates, Lichting continues to establish itself as the epicentre of a new generation of design voices, offering a rare glimpse into the future of fashion. Each participant brought a distinct narrative and technical vision, from sculptural tailoring to textile-driven experimentation, proving once again the breadth of creative excellence coming out of the Netherlands.
Youngjin Choe, the top graduate of ArtEZ University of the Arts, impressed the jury with Duality of Light, a collection that bound heritage and rebellion into one striking silhouette. Leather jackets morphed into bustles, twisting familiar garments into sculptural forms. Belts and knots cinched tightly, pulling bodies into shapes that felt both regal and restrained.
The work carried echoes of traditional dress and staged a quiet struggle between elegance and discomfort. Each look moved like a question: how much can clothing free us, and how much does it hold us in place? With its haunting beauty and precision, the collection lingered in the room long after the final bow.
The Jury Report
This year’s international jury brought together voices from across fashion, media, and consultancy. Hussein Suleiman (Co-founder of Daily Paper), Timitej Letonja (Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Numéro & Numéro Homme Netherlands and founder of Haze Media), Inkea Bouman (Senior Strategic Design Lead), Nico Zulatto (Founder of Volks Management Studio and Volks Productions), and Silke Geib (Creative Consultant, Fashion Educator, and Founder of ABOUT:FASHION) deliberated on the presentations and collections before reaching a unanimous decision.
The Participants of Lichting 2025
Bobby Beltz, Dorka Szabo, Eva Popa, Gijs van Herwaarden, Hiromu Takeshita, Jamie Lugtenberg, Karolina Wójtowicz, Magdalena Weigel, Tijn Roozen, Youngjin Choe.
As the evening closed, Lichting’s founder Mariette Hoitink looked ahead. With next year marking the 20th edition, she shared her ambition to stage an exhibition that will gather the best images and films of all previous participants, a celebration not only of this year’s winner, but of two decades of Dutch fashion talent.
