The creation of Netherlands based latex brand UNTITLEDrubber has, at times, been a difficult journey. But, with many years of soul searching and internal discovery, it has ultimately been a rewarding experience for owner Ivo Mittelmeijer. We sat down with him recently to talk through this insightful journey.
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The genesis of the brand occurred back in November 2019 when Ivo caught up with a close friend from Sweden. At the time, Ivo was “inspired by their conversation about the pursuit of an authentic self” and this was a realisation that it was time to pursue his passion and learn more about a material that he felt a strong connection with: Rubber.
However, Mittelmeijer’s fashion roots and creativity extend back to his childhood. “I was already creative as a boy. My mother was a seamstress and my grandmother sewed ballroom dresses for the Mittelmeijer Dancing School in Amsterdam.”, Ivo tells us. Growing up in the small beachside village of Egmond, the designer knew that his artistry and expressiveness would not be fulfilled and so, shortly after completing his HAVO (the Dutch education system prepares students to study higher professional education under this banner) qualifications, he enrolled in the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) and followed in his mother’s footsteps, who had previously studied at the Montaigne Academy, now part of the AMFI.
Ivo studied at AMFI for two years during which his “creativity blossomed”, something which is visibly clear in his future designs. This led him to greater achievements. “I was admitted to ARTeZ in Arnhem on the advice of Astrid van Engelen because I was creative in a different way.” Ivo continued, “And with good results, because in my senior year I won the first prize of Lichting 2007 and was voted the best graduate of all academies in the Netherlands that year.”
His skills and talent did not go unnoticed. Leading Benelux communication & creation agency SPICE came knocking at his door, promoting the newly qualified designer free of charge (surely confirmation of the incredible up-and-coming talent they saw in Ivo) and his design aptitude was soon in high demand. “I have been able to make things for the Amsterdam Museum, Zuiderzee Museum and Introdans”, he tells us. But Ivo soon came to understand this was not the career path he wanted to take. “I quickly discovered that fashion wasn’t it because I had something different to explore with clothes”, he explained, in what was clearly a defining moment in his life.
His eyes were opened working and patronising the bars and clubs of Amsterdam. It was at this point in his career that he realised “Hey, there’s another side to clothing”. A chance to meet photographer René Zuiderveld opened his eyes further to what could be achieved and what was possible. Soon enough, René introduced Ivo to the owners of RoB Amsterdam and it was at this point that Mittelmeijer discovered his passion. “It finally brought me to myself and I started doing what was deep within me”, Ivo told us, continuing “I’d been to Berlin a lot to order rubber clothing and suddenly I thought; ‘this is what I have to do.’”
Then came the Covid pandemic. Ivo described 2020 as “a year that allowed us all the time and space to think about our way of living.” In one of these moments, he was brought back to that November dinner. An epiphany hit the designer as he realised that all the skills, connections, and people he had encountered over the years had allowed him to build up “a broad network through my education and work experiences in Amsterdam and Berlin. People who support you and promote you, who think along with you and who want to help you because of what you do and who you are. Looking back on it, it’s nice that this all came my way unplanned.” From that moment on he knew that his goal was to build a latex brand which encompassed “his minimalist aesthetic, distinct style and unique finishes.”
His journey to the launch of his own latex brand took time, some three years in total, and came with many challenges. “We all know or expect that building a brand is never a smooth, linear journey. We face curveballs and make tough decisions along the way” Ivo commented to us, “but despite facing challenges in the first three years while starting a rubber brand in a tiny 10-square-metre studio, we have now successfully created a brand that opposes preconceptions and established norms. We have discovered new ways to showcase our unique style and strong signature.”
It’s clear that the design choices made by UNTITLED are a conscious decision. “My style is monochromatic, which means one colour. So if the choice is bright yellow, everything goes in bright yellow, preferably including shoes.” Ivo tells us. “There is room for expansion in this market and that is great to make more hearts beat faster together.”, he continues, “Rubber is currently making a big leap. People no longer just wear it as a fetish or from a sexual point of view, but for expression and it really dawned on me in Berlin’s nightlife that it can be done differently.”
Officially launched in February 2024, at the brands new home in Dokter Jan van Breemenstraat, Amsterdam, latex aficionado, and UNTITLEDrubber cohort, Latex Peach took to her Instagram profile to show off a number of the creations from their first capsule collection.
This was followed a week later by the Main Launch during Darklands in Antwerp.
So how does Ivo now feel that the toil of the labour has come to fruition? “We have found our voice and discovered that we create in order to push boundaries in both the fetish and fashion worlds”, he states. With a clear vision and a strong future ahead of the brand he plans that UNTITLEDrubber will “always evolve, experiment and continue challenging ourselves to blaze a trail for those who don’t want to be confined.” In an attempt to explore the openness of latex fashion, the brand holds an open studio event every last Saturday of the month, no appointment required.
And finally, on that choice of name? “The only thing left was finding a name that embodies freedom and leaves room for everyone’s authentic self. We want people to connect a part of themselves to our brand without feeling constrained by preexisting ideas or someone else’s identity. We want people to find themselves in our gear. That is why we needed a name that gives space for everyone.”
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!
Find out more at www.UNTITLEDrubber.com and on their socials at Instagram and Facebook.
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