Fashion designer Frans Molenaar dead at 74
Dutch fashion designer Frans Molenaar, whose wide range of work earned him the reputation of “creative centipede”, died on Friday from complications of a household accident. He was 74.
His personal assistant Mirjam Bax said he suffered broken ribs and metatarsal bone when he fell from a staircase just before Christmas. He was admitted to a hospital where at first he was convinced that he would return to work and present his 100th collection in March. But his health deteriorated rapidly. “His condition was worse than we told the outside world; the hospital told us that he died from complications of that fall,” Bax said.
Molenaar was one of The Netherland’s most well-known fashion designers. His range of designs included everything from bicycles, eyeglasses, cars and urns, all in modern, tight, simple lines. He referred to his vision as “simplicity and timelessness” and “The art of omitting”.
He was knighted in 1995 and in 2003 he received Max Heijmans ring, a prize that is given out once every two years. Molenaar would turn 75 in May this year. He will be laid to rest on Thursday at the Zorgvield cemetery. Hundreds of people have been invited for the funeral service. It is not clear who all will speak, but singer Sven Ratzke who would perform at the presentation of the 100th collection will sing.
