Oceanista - Fashion & Sea

The influence of water on fashion

What do the yellow raincoat, the Breton stripe, and the fisherman's sweater have in common? They all stem from maritime culture and have been a lasting source of inspiration for designers worldwide for decades. The influences of the sea and life on the water are reflected in many wardrobes.

Top designers

Oceanista takes you on a journey through maritime-inspired designs by international giants like Chanel, Maison Margiela, Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thom Browne, Balmain, Off-White/Virgil Abloh, and Moncler, as well as Dutch designers making a name for themselves with sustainable and distinctive designs. Think Iris van Herpen, Duran Lantink, Botter, Martan, Camiel Fortgens, Darwin Winklaar (Niño Divino), Quiana Cronie, MARCUS ELIZABETH, Fleur Ouwerkerk, Tevin Blancheville, and Yousra Razine Mahrah.

The exhibition reveals how the sea shapes fashion through materials, silhouettes, prints, and symbolism, and demonstrates how designers use these influences to explore themes such as sustainability, heritage, and identity. Oceanista also offers a platform for a broader societal conversation: about what sustainable fashion actually is, and how we can reconcile our need for expression with a cleaner planet.

Oceanista Atelier

A unique element of the exhibition is the Oceanista Atelier, developed in collaboration with students from ROC Amsterdam. Here, the focus is on slow fashion: designing timeless, repairable clothing with a minimal ecological footprint. Students will showcase their own designs, give tutorials on traditional crafting techniques, and invite visitors to sketch their own sustainable garments.

Oceanista - Fashion & Sea is based on a traveling exhibition concept from the M/S Maritime Museum in Helsingør, Denmark, presented by the exhibition network Expona. For the Dutch edition, the Maritime Museum has enhanced the concept with pieces from its own collection and work by national designers.

Programming

Throughout the exhibition, a variety of events and activities are being organized. You can find more information about the individual components on this page . In conjunction with Oceanista, the National Maritime Museum is organizing three Fashion Nights on February 6, March 13, and April 3, featuring evening programming, food, and drinks.