Eduard Nijgh takes his trusty 35mm film camera along for the ride when he accompanies his brother on the Benzak Denim Developers 2020 trade show tour.
After our article on how to survive the pitfalls and perils of Pitti Uomo, you might be under the impression that the town of Florence is the be-all and end-all of the fashion circuit. Not at all, in fact, even our little tour took us to Berlin, Paris and Frankfurt. Many of our mates had much further to go. Milan, London, Copenhagen and New York are also essential stops as well as a plethora of more local showrooms and events.
Can’t be everywhere
Sadly, we can’t cover them all. Gladly… we have talented mates who can. Eduard Nijgh, the younger brother of Lennaert Nijgh, aka, Mr Benzak Denim Developers, is really quite a good photographer. This might be an understatement… he is amazing! During the trade shows, Lenn and Ed are always underway together and Ed is always armed with a camera of some description.
The Benzak Brothers
In this latest series, the Benzak brothers take us on a little tour of their trade show experience in Berlin and Paris. What we love about the shots is that they are not really trade show related. The pictures give a glimpse into what goes on behind and to the side of a trade show. It gives a very human perspective on events that can seem stiff and self-important. This is further encapsulated with Ed’s choice of a 35mm film camera, over an all singing all dancing digital device.
A people industry
What we see is the very human side of the industry. Hanging out with good people. Catching up with good friends you don’t see from season to season. Making new connections, new friends and fostering professional relationships. This is the side of the job that makes the long hours and long hauls worthwhile. And it reminds me of a piece of advice that Daniel gave me way back in the day.
This is a people industry, not a product industry.
On a side note, it is worth heading over to Ed’s Instagram to check out his other work. Inspiring to say the least. And of course, if you haven’t popped past the Benzak Denim Developers site for a while, it is worth a visit. Check out the latest lookbook they dropped a few weeks ago. We love the leap forward for the brand.
