In 2017, Jef Montes made his international debut with the fashion collection Tormenta. The silhouettes and textures of the collection change when it comes into contact with water. The fabrics are largely woven with nylon threads made from recycled fishing nets.
The collection was inspired by the maritime industry, with which Montes has a personal connection. His grandfather was a fisherman in Spain and built model ships after he retired. Tormenta means storm in Spanish and refers to the silhouettes of the designs that arise and develop like a storm around the body. The patterns were inspired by ships’ sails.
The starting point of the collection was a study of materials that are usually used to build ships. The study was divided into six categories, in which nylon from recycled fishing nets forms the basis. A different technique was used for each category. Besides nylon, brass, carbon and fibreglass were used to weave the fabrics.
Fashion and textile designer Montes established his own label after graduating cum laude from the ArtEZ Academy of Art and Design Arnhem in 2012. Montes sees clothing and materials as living architecture, adapting to the environment. In 2014, he made his national debut at Amsterdam Fashion Week with his collection Illuminosa.
Two years later, his Revolver collection, which consisted of water-soluble textiles and aimed to draw attention to the current fashion industry, earned him widespread acclaim. He made his international debut with Tormenta during Paris Fashion Week in 2017. In 2018, he established Studio Adaptive Skins, a label under which he continues to develop his responsive materials.
