Author Archives: IBCoMagazine

10 Tips for the 20’s

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With the changing of decades, we welcome a new era of our lives! The 2020s marks the decade where most of us will embark on a new journey. We will graduate from university, start new jobs, and maybe even move countries a couple more times. We might meet the one and might even decide to have children. This decade will be a mixture of change and growth in our lives. With that in mind, here are 10 tips to leave the 10’s and into the 20’s!

  1. The year of exploration: Explore more!
    The 1920’s marks the period of time where cities began to expand outwards because of the arrival of automobiles, therefore people could go around and weren’t limited to what immediately surrounded them. This year, we should explore, not only the city we currently live in but also what surrounds it.
  2. The year of unimaginable opportunities: Be open to new opportunities
    The start of industrialization allowed for more job opportunities in the world, especially among women. With the new decade at hand, this could mean changes in ourselves leading us to find job opportunities or experience we never thought of doing. Therefore, we shall be open-minded and not limit ourselves this year.
  3. The year we take action: Be active citizens of the world
    Child labour laws were lifted and birth control leagues were created. Movements and changes that have impacted us today. This year we must be more aware of the world we live in and try to actively take part in these movements.
  4. The year for loved ones: Make time for those you care about
    This decade will be the start of us moving into adulthood. We will have different priorities at times but never forget to cherish and make time for those who have helped us along the way!
  5. The year of empowerment: Empower yourself by breaking norms
    The 20’s was a time where moral standards were pushed. Gone were the times of covering up as women wore looser, shorter and more revealing dresses, these made apparent by the classic 1920’s flapper girl. This year we should empower ourselves by accepting that we may not always fit into what society deems as normal.
  6. The year for glamour: A little glamour never killed nobody!
    Makeup in the 1920’s was all about accentuating. An influence was black and white silent films, where actors had to accentuate their brows, lips, and eyes in order to project expression. For the ladies, this year try to get inspired by 1920’s rouge, accentuating your cheeks and try to accentuate your cupid’s bow the way they did.
  7. The year of freedom: Excitement is key
    The 1920’s were known as the roaring 20’s because of the exuberance of the time, filled with Jazz and the Charleston. Make sure that in everything you do, you are always filled with excitement just as they were in the 20’s.
  8. The year of influence: Be the change you want to see
    The 1920’s marks the beginning of change. For instance, women were finally given the right to vote, which opened up numerous opportunities, ones that challenged traditional female roles. In this decade, take a stand and stand up for what you believe in, it may even influence the future you live in.
  9. The year of creativity: Let yourself be creative
    Art deco has remained to be one of the most iconic styles of visual art from the 1920’s. It is easily recognizable known for its bold geometric patterns, clear lines, and intense colours. That being said, allow yourself to be bold and intense in your creations this year, and also remind yourself to have precision in your actions such that of the Art Deco style.
  10. The year of spending: Make sure to budget and save!
    The exuberance of the roaring 20’s came to downhill in 1929 when the stock market crashed, which ultimately led to the great depression. Enjoy the start of the 20’s but make sure you are budgeting and saving your money for the years to come! Beginnings can be exciting but don’t spend too much as it may lead to the crashing of your expenses! Plan for the future. Good luck!

Author: Aisya
Illustrator: Clara
Editor: Kat

Passion for Fashion: Humans of IBCoM with Saartje Langstraat

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I recently attended a seminar organized by EUR’s New Fashion Society (NFS). Matilda Rosengren is the Head of Marketing at GANT, a sustainable sportswear brand on the Benelux market, and I was lucky enough to hear about her experiences regarding internships and challenges within the company.

For this edition of Humans of IBCoM, I sat down with Saartje, a first-year IBCoM student and a member of NFS. We talked about the seminar and her own insights on sustainable clothing, and Saartje expressed her passion for fashion.

Meeting in Food Plaza, Saartje immediately caught my eye in a polka dot blouse paired with funky plaid pants. “I’ve had an interest in fashion for as long as I can remember,” Saartje tells me. Taught by her mother to sew clothing, she has picked out her own outfits from the age of four and has developed an authentic style inspired by many fashion icons.

Saartje’s love of fashion is reflected through her commitment to NFS. One of the reasons she chose to study IBCoM at Erasmus was because she had heard about the fashion society, and was thrilled at the idea of “being able to incorporate the art of fashion into the study”. She has taken on the position of blogger, writing about high fashion for NFS’s website. The blog posts are concentrated toward “fashion local to Rotterdam so that people can see what’s trending around town.”

During the GANT seminar, Matilda expressed the company’s overarching goal of brand authenticity, which Saartje defined as styles that cannot be replicated by any other brand, “from a fabric to a certain silhouette.” Another aspect of the seminar that especially stood out to Saartje was Matilda’s discussion of how present the distinction between men and women is in the workplace. She reinforced Matilda’s belief that women must be independent and maintain their own beliefs when faced with discrimination. Her biggest takeaway? “People will try to change you… don’t let them.”

Matilda also stated GANT’s belief in the importance of sustainable fashion, which Saartje offered her own opinion on. “As a student, it can be difficult to find inexpensive sustainable clothing”, but there are definite alternatives to investing in fast fashion brands. Most of Saartje’s staple items are secondhand, and she enjoys the thought process that accompanies picking out sustainable items.

Saartje described her go-to look as involving “a skirt and some funky tights paired with Dr. Martens”. Streetwear also dominates her style; she described oversized sweaters, baggy trousers, and bucket hats as “comfortable yet stylish”. When asked how she maintains confidence, Saartje claims she “got sick of wanting to change” herself to fit in, and has stayed authentic ever since coming upon that realization. “If you wear something with confidence, it always looks better.”

I asked Saartje a final question regarding how she intends to apply her IBCoM degree to the fashion world. “Having a background in social media is really important” because brands are increasingly looking for influencers to promote their clothing. In turn, such influencers are being invited to fashion shows and other events held by global scale brands.

Saartje expressed her excitement toward the approaching NFS events. She could barely contain her excitement when speaking about their February trip to Paris, in which the society will be attending various events about French fashion. “I’ve already started picking out my outfits!” An NFS vintage-themed fashion show is also in the works, with many opportunities for IBCoM students to get involved. Whether you have a passion for clothing design and want your work shown or you’re interested in strutting down the runway, keep your eyes peeled on NFS’s Facebook page for more information!
Author: Gigi
Editor: Kat

On the road – direction home – the lake house

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You’re entering the door. The smell. The lighting. The whole atmosphere makes you remember. Remember how it once felt. How it felt a long time ago. Is it possible that a place can feel so far away even though it has been so close to for you such a long time?

Memories are coming back. All these emotions. All these nights you have spent chatting about life with friends, laughing about the most childish jokes and sitting on the balcony, smoking, listening to music and watching the sunset over the lake. All these days you have spent on the corner sofa in the arms of the one, the one you once loved so much. Reading books and watching these comedy movies you once enjoyed so much. You close your eyes. You can visualize the imagery in your mind, almost like a movie trailer. You have to hold back a smile. As you can hear the wind blowing, you open your eyes again. Outside the huge glass windows in the living room, you can see the lake getting rough. Watching the waves makes you feel like nothing has changed. Like you are still the same person you were years ago. These years you have lived in that house by the lake. This house that once was your home. A harsh shiver ran down your spine. Home.

How is it possible that a feeling of home can change so easily? Well, most of us are familiar with it. Being abroad or moving out, establishing a new life somewhere else often changes our perception of home. I know this is one of these themes of every second super ‘deep’ Instagram or Pinterest quote. But be honest with yourself. It does trigger a feeling deep inside you that makes you miss home, right?

Luckily, researchers discovered groundbreaking insights into our brain’s processes and display the surprising power and reach of our senses. In this context, our brain uses the subtlest information to perceive the world. It uses forms of perceptual information, which we are not even aware of. To get into the spirit of the perception of home, it might be helpful to discover methods that can facilitate arousing your senses and to focus. Knowing where to direct your attention, to make you feel at home anywhere.

#Sense of Sound
Turn on one of your favorite playlists or an album of your favorite artist. This artist that you used to listen to at home. Close your eyes, and focus on the music. Listen to the instruments and the lyrics. Take in all these sounds and catch your imagery of home.

#Sense of Smell
Light up some candles. Buy yourself some flowers that make your room smell, like it used to smell at home. Use this particular room- spray your beloved perfume to shed a fragrance. Close your eyes and focus on the smell, to let this sense develop powerfully.

#Sense of Sight
Use a cozy evening to watch this show or this movie you usually watched with your loved ones at home. This one show that was part of a weekly routine with friends and family. Concentrate on the visuals and the imagery.

#Sense of Taste
What about a potluck dinner with your friends; everyone brings one dish to share, one dish from home? Even though we can get food from almost everywhere in the world no matter where we are, it is often not as good as we are used to. So… just prepare it yourself and share it with your friends! Taste is a powerful sense and can evoke vivid memories, memories of home.

#Sense of Touch
Take your humification to another level and further explore the outside world. Take this little walk- around your neighborhood. Knowing your surroundings can provide you a feeling of belonging. Being greeted more personally at your local gym, supermarket or café can create such a tangible feeling of home. PS: whenever possible make your WIFI connect automatically.

These are just very general ideas of how to use the power of your senses. You can use this canvas and create an individual version for yourself. I need to end this post a bit corny… It should be clear by now that home is not a place, rather a state of mind, so apply these insights to finally bring back home to you.

Author: Antonia
Editor: Kat