FASHIONATRIX: Kassi Tresse performs at Copenhagen’s Fetish Fashion Party 2019 (photo: coJac)
Copenhagen: Fetish Fashion Party 2019 presents Sebastian Cauchos
Copenhagen’s Fetish Fashion Party 2019 – largest event in ManiFest’s schedule – takes place later this month at a new venue. This year’s fashion shows come from Amsterdam’s Sebastian Cauchos (a rare appearance) and local retailer Homoware along with Mister B. Belgium’s Kassi Tresse and Berlin-based Nikolaj Tange Lange also perform. For full 2019 details, read Tony Mitchell’s preview below; for more insights, see Anna MacMurdo’s companion report and pix from FFP 2018 here. Banner: Heike Suhre (hsfotografie.com). Model: Cecina. Latex: Sebastian Cauchos
Copenhagen’s Fetish Fashion Party 2019, hosted by the people behind ManiFest, takes place on September 21 at Halvandet, a venue in the old part of the city’s industrial harbour.
FFP is regarded by its organisers as a standalone annual event, rather than simply ‘the September ManiFest party with a fetish fashion theme’. There are several reasons they make this distinction.…
1: FFP was launched as an annual event before ManiFest-branded parties began. 2: It’s the only event the ManiFest guys organise that features fashion shows. 3: It’s the biggest event they host.
4: It’s their only event that specifically aims to attract an international audience. 5: Last but not least, it’s their only event that you can attend without ManiFest membership.
To be honest, I’m not sure how much all these differences concern regular ManiFest partygoers. But that’s how the organisers see things!
Fetish Fashion Party 2019 will be headlined by a latex fashion show from Sebastian Cauchos, the Amsterdam-based specialist in latex couture that embraces modesty and extravagance in equal proportions.
The party’s hosts have been trying to get him on the bill for some years now, but as a non-commercial designer, Sebastian rarely does shows.
So, unsurprisingly, ManiFest’s Stephen Monaghan says they are “thrilled he is finally coming”.
A second fashion show will be presented by local men’s fetish clothing retailer (and FFP sponsor) Homoware, in conjunction with Mister B (pictured above), one of the top brands the store represents.
While catering, as its name suggests, primarily to the gay scene, Homoware stocks a selection of clothing that should be of interest to all male fetishists — “something we were missing in Copenhagen for some time” according to Monaghan.
Additional live shows this year will come from Brussels domina and performance artist Kassi Tresse, and from Nikolaj Tange Lange, a Danish-born writer/musician/dancer/performer now resident in Berlin.
This year’s DJs are I-Claud (Claudia Van Helden/NL); James (SE); Andreas Barth (SE); Mashti (DK); and Alex de Large (IT)
The party will feature sideshows such as Les 3 Mesdames (led by Madame la Domptrice) offering Caning, Caging and Sensory Training with the help of a confinement box and a vast selection of disciplinary tools.
Features of the venue will include a dancefloor, playroom, darkroom, ‘redroom’, changing room, chill-out lounge, smoking area and outside terrace with harbour view.
And very sensibly, given the remote location of Halvandet (and I know, because I was there for ManiFest’s 20th birthday party in 2018), there is also a shuttle bus to transport you from, and back to, civilisation — if you’re not driving or a fan of expensive cab rides.
Sadly I was not able to make it to last year’s more centrally located Fetish Fashion Party, held at lakeside venue Søpavillonen, and featuring fashion shows by Bondinage and House of Harlot.
But I can report that Bondinage boss Stephen Fuller returned from last year’s party — his first time in Copenhagen — full of praise for the event and its host city, which he had some time to explore during his stay.
Of course the primary purpose of his visit was to put on a fashion show, and in that respect, he says, main FFP organiser Stig did “everything possible” to make the night run smoothly for the Bondinage team.
(Stig has since pulled out of the event, which is now being organised by Monaghan and his colleague Anton.)
“Stig’s professionalism and charm made us feel very comfortable, which always helps when organising a show. The event itself was beyond expectation and probably one of the best we’ve appeared in.
“It was well attended, with an appreciative audience and some great models to work with including Psylocke, Kassi Tresse, Honeyhair, Baby Joy and Stephanie Van der Strumpf to name just a handful — which all made it a memorable experience.”
Stephen discovered that if you have time for some tourism during your Copenhagen visit, “a nice way to explore is to hire bicycles, as the city’s bike network runs effortlessly”.
Just as I did on my visit earlier in 2018, he also found Christiana “a particular interesting place to visit”. This anarchist ‘free town’ in central Copenhagen was originally an army base that fell into disuse and was taken over by hippies in the late 1950s.
“Probably the original hippy commune, it has a ‘green light’ district where it’s possible and legal to buy all sorts of cannabis and hashish,” he notes.
Overall, he reckons, as a first-time visitor, Copenhagen felt “very safe, with low pollution and minimal advertising hoardings” thanks to local council laws. “A wide choice of food is readily available,” he observes, “although alcohol is generally on the pricy side.” And not just alcohol, in my experience.
Stephen adds that he hopes to return in the future to do another Bondinage show and to explore the city more. But even before that, he’s planning to attend this year’s Fetish Fashion Party just as a ‘punter’, and hopes to meet a few customers during his visit.
He may decide that the boxy minimalism of this year’s Halvandet venue is no match for the ornate late-19th-century pavilion architecture of Søpavillonen, last year’s location. But once inside — assuming the hosts spend some money dressing the venue — that should hardly matter.
Fetish Fashion Party 2019 at Halvandet, 325 Refshalveej, 1432 Copenhagen K, Denmark is a strict dresscode event. Just one level of earlybird access was still available at publication time: Level 4 tickets at DKK 385 (approx €50.50).
After they’re gone, it’s standard/door tickets at DKK 450 (58.50) or nothing! Fee per ticket is DKK 24 (€3.12).
If you’re considering attending Fetish Fashion Party 2019 from outside Denmark, be aware that Copenhagen is not a cheap city to visit.
But it is beautiful, the locals all speak English and are friendly to visitors, and the weather should still be mild (if a bit chilly) when the party takes place.
If you’re looking for a value-for-money hotel, allow me to suggest Wakeup Copenhagen Borgergade, where I stayed in 2018. It’s a modern, Motel-One style establishment and very central.
It’s also only a short walk from the magnificent Marble Church, underneath which much of the action in the first season of Danish TV thriller Beneath The Surface took place. What more could anyone want?
Copenhagen-based US expat Anna MacMurdo kindly covered last year’s Fetish Fashion Party on our behalf. So do visit this article’s companion piece here for her FFP 2018 report and pictures. They should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from this year — even if the venue has moved!
manifest.eu/fetish-fashion-party-2019
facebook.com/fetish-fashion-party-2019
fetishistas/fetish-fashion-party-2018
fetishistas/manifest-cover-story-2018
cojacphotography.com
hsfotografie.com
BELOW: Nikolaj Tange Lange will also perform at Copenhagen’s Fetish Fashion Party 2019
Published September 4, 2019
Tags: Designers, Fashion Shows, Parties, Performers
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