The Dutch Fashion Foundation is a non-profit Dutch fashion incubator for upcoming Dutch fashion designers. It focuses on strengthening the social, economic and cultural role of Dutch fashion on a national and international level.
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, 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.
In May 2003, the Dutch Fashion Foundation was officially introduced after being a silent corporation for two years.
The Dutch Fashion Foundation is the initiator and organiser of the annual Dutch Fashion Awards and the international campaign Dutch Touch.