This autumn, the National Maritime Museum presents Oceanista, a multifaceted fashion exhibition that connects the maritime past, contemporary fashion and the sustainable future of clothing.
The temporary fashion exhibition Oceanista, on display from 10 October, compellingly connects the maritime past, today's fashion scene and the sustainable future of clothing.
What do the yellow raincoat, Breton stripes and fisherman's sweater have in common? They all originated from maritime culture and have been a lasting source of inspiration for designers worldwide for decades. The influences of the sea and life on the water can therefore be found in many wardrobes.
Top designers
Oceanista takes you on a journey through maritime-inspired designs by international giants such as Chanel, Maison Margiela, Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thom Browne, Balmain, Off-White/Virgil Abloh and Moncler, as well as Dutch designers who are making a name for themselves with sustainable and distinctive designs. Think Iris van Herpen, Duran Lantink, Botter, Martan, Camiel Fortgens, Darwin Winklaar (Niño Divino) and Yousra Razine Mahrah.
The exhibition shows how the sea leaves its mark on fashion in materials, silhouettes, prints and symbolism, and demonstrates how designers use these influences to explore themes such as sustainability, heritage and identity. Oceanista also provides a platform for a broader social debate: about what sustainable fashion actually is, and how we can reconcile our need for expression with a cleaner planet.
Oceanista Studio
Unique to the exhibition is the Oceanista Studio, developed in collaboration with students from ROC Amsterdam. Here, the focus is on slow fashion: designing timeless, repairable clothing with a minimal ecological footprint. Students showcase their own designs, give tutorials on traditional handicraft techniques, and invite visitors to sketch their own sustainable garments.
Oceanista is based on a travelling exhibition concept from the M/S Maritime Museum in Helsingør (Denmark), offered by the Expona exhibition network. For the Dutch edition, the Scheepvaartmuseum has enriched the concept with pieces from its own collection and work by national designers.
Oceanista will be on display from 10 October 2025 to 12 April 2026.
Oceanista is made possible in part by financial support from: