The fashion label ‘Puck & Hans’ was created by Puck Kroon (1941) and Hans Kemmink (1947). Their career began in 1967 when they opened their first shop in The Hague. In 1971 a shop in Rotterdam was added, and in 1974 the first Amsterdam shop was opened on the Rokin. They were the first in the Netherlands to sell clothing by Kenzo and a young Jean Paul Gaultier, alongside their own creations. Puck & Hans were well-known for their hand-painted silk blouses and belts made from toilet seat hinges. They were also responsible for the popularity of pinstripes. Their clientele included Loes Luca, Princess Irene and Marina Abramovic, but less famous customers also enjoyed buying a unique ‘Puck & Hans’. Even today they are still well known in the fashion world.
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- Nederlands
Puck & Hans - First retrospective exhibition
This summer, the Amsterdam Museum is hosting the first retrospective exhibition of Puck & Hans, the iconic fashion duo. Puck & Hans were widely known in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s for their striking creations. Their clothing items were characterised by a mix of exclusive materials, quality and playfulness. Puck & Hans also organised fashion shows at typical Amsterdam locations like Artis Zoo and the Westergas grounds.
In the exhibition, there are items from the collection as well as clothing from private owners that has never been exhibited before. To create the exhibition, the Amsterdam Museum worked closely together with Puck & Hans. Frans Ankoné was also brought in as fashion consultant, and guest curator Maarten Spruyt was responsible for the composition and design of the exhibition.
Documentary
A documentary will be produced about the Puck & Hans exhibition by Smarthouse Films. Director Peter Wingender is recording every step of the process, from collecting the items of clothing from famous and unknown customers, to putting the exhibits together, to the celebratory opening. Along the way, a picture emerges of what Puck & Hans have meant for Dutch and Amsterdam fashion. The documentary also reveals the people they inspired and touched with their creations, such as the designers Viktor & Rolf and Jean Paul Gaultier. It also gives a unique look into the life of Puck & Hans, then and now. Who are they? Why were they so admired and what is their life like now?
