It focuses on strengthening the social, economic and cultural role of Dutch fashion on a national and international level.
[1] The Dutch Fashion Foundation originated out of a growing request for growth and development of a Dutch fashion climate.
In 2000 Angelique Westerhof, co-founder and director of the fashion master course Fashion Institute Arnhem,[citation needed] observed that fashion designers who had graduated from the Fashion Institute Arnhem had difficulties presenting their collection to a wider audience, set up their own fashion labels and find a connection with the fashion industry on their own.
She established the Dutch Fashion Foundation in 2001 to develop the status of a collective Dutch fashion discipline.
[2][3] In May 2003, the Dutch Fashion Foundation was officially introduced after being a silent corporation for two years.