It’s always sad when a talented person dies young as you inevitably end up wondering what they could have created if they had lived longer. 
That’s the first thought that came to my mind when I heard about the death of Dutch designer Percy Irausquin. The Amsterdam-based designer, who turned 39 at the end of June, died in an accident last week. The Dutch press reported he slipped in the shower and fell on his head.
Irausquin was born on the Caribbean island of Aruba, and, when he finished school, moved to the Netherlands to study fashion at Amsterdam’s Gerrit Rietveld Academy. He continued his studies at the Fashion Institute Arnhem and was nominated in 2001 for the Robijn Fashion Award. A winner of the Frans Molenaar Couture award, after his graduation from Arnhem he worked for Christian Lacroix and for corset maker Hubèrt Barrère. His 2002 “Bacchanal Chique” collection was inspired by the Aruban Carnival, while his 2003 “Edmee Enbias” was a tribute to his great-grandmother. 
Irausquin made his Oscar debut at the 2008 awards show in February when British Oscar nominee (and winner) writer, director and producer Suzy Templeton wore one of his creations. The designer showed his latest Spring/Summer prêt-a-porter collection at Amsterdam Fashion Week in mid-July.
Irausquin was particularly famous for his sexy and romantic haute couture dresses in chiffon, crepe and silk. His long and elegant gowns were often characterised by draped motifs, interesting cuts and bright colours such as fuchsia, lilac, green, yellow, peach, red and blue. Irausquin also created a prêt-à-porter line called PRC Collection.
Irausquin designed with a sophisticated, independent, cosmopolitan and tough woman in mind and was a favourite of many celebrities such as Katja Schuurman (he created her wedding dress).
In Italy he was known for a very special collaboration with furniture manufacturer Natuzzi: to celebrate the opening of 10 flagship stores in the Netherlands, 
the Italian company launched a project with Irausquin and the Rietveld Academy and the designer created for the occasion an extravagant dress with the same leather used by Natuzzi for its armchairs and sofas.
My favourite Irausquin collections remain "Belle de jour" inspired by the eponymous 1967 Luis Buñuel film featuring Catherine Deneuve and "Supernova”. The former was a juxtaposition of haute couture and prêt-à-porter; the latter was a perfectly balanced excess of glamorous and opulent fabrics and wonderful silhouettes. 
I also particularly liked his colourful creations from his recent prêt-à-porter collection that seemed to evoke the nuances of exotic flowers found in tropical gardens.
Considered by the Dutch press as one of the country’s most talented fashion creators and tipped by Vogue as one of the up-and-coming designers, Irausquin will be greatly missed.
Percy Irausquin will be laid to rest on 23rd August in Aruba. Notes of condolences can be registered on the PRC Collection website.
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