Icon Visions

Founded by Cecilie Jørgensen in 2018
Closed by Cecilie Jørgensen in 2024
hello@iconvisions.net

THERE'S A UNIQUE QUALITY TO THE MOMENT WHEN LEGENDARY PROJECTS COME TO A CLOSE. IT PROMPTS INTROSPECTIVE CONTEMPLATION AND INVITES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGACY LEFT BEHIND. THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 25TH 2024 AT COPENHAGEN CONTEMPORARY. HERE, CECILIE JØRGENSEN SHOWCASED THE CULMINATION OF HER CREATIVE JOURNEY WITH ICON VISIONS - A ONE-MAN PROJECT THAT INCLUDED AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IT BEGAN IN 2018 AND CONCLUDED IN 2024. NOT OWED TO THE DANISH FASHION INDUSTRY, BUT RATHER, IT'S THEIR INFLUENCE THAT HAS LED

HER TO THE DECISION NOT TO PERSIST.

"My vision was to establish a platform, a space serving as a launching pad for emerging Danish and international designers and artists. As a young designer, I felt this space was absent and still find it lacking in Copenhagen. The pivotal point was the 'Icon Store,' where I could expand on my numerous collaborations and create a space embodying the universe of Icon Visions. Additionally, I aimed to curate fresh talents every six months, forming a platform that could act as a hub for Icon Visions and a stepping stone for other upcoming designers and artists. Unfortunately, it became apparent that investors were more inclined towards steering Icon Visions into the commercial fashion realm, prioritizing annual mass-produced collections," Cecilie explains, shedding light on why she's chosen to close this chapter.
"Deep down, I don't believe the world needs another clothing company focused on mass production. It's not about a lack of room for new brands; I just believe that a reevaluation of approaches and execution in novel ways is essential. Hence, I've made the decision to close the chapter on the fantastic era of Icon Visions while the going is still good, and I can continue to stand proudly by what I've created," she concludes.

Thank you to everyone involved! Cecilie Jørgensen

Can one predict the past?
by Felix Thorsen Katzenelson

Spring 2018, can you imagine it? It’s almost six years ago, 292 weeks, Instagram tells me. A jumpsuit inspired by Dolly Parton and minimalist Japanese fashion. Seen from the outside, that’s where Icon Visions began, emerging elegant and monochrome, mature. Initially unrecognizable as the wild Icon Visions I know, but then I see the poster behind it. A tribal tattoo and a karaoke line from ’9 to 5,’ nostalgic like a teenager’s room, that’s peak Icon Visions.
When I think of Icon Visions, I think of an inflatable armchair, I think of the neon-blue American Idol logo, I think of the cool tile floor in the mall, I think of an old school cell phone, Paris Hilton’s, bedazzled. I think of when the internet was a place you went to, a computer you sat down at for a while, instead of something that’s everywhere all the time. A webcam selfie in ninth grade, so tender, so cute, so cool.
Icon Visions chose not to follow the regular fashion calendar with constant seasons; they preferred to say something when there was something to say, like back when it cost money to send a text, so you thought about how many you sent. And then I think about the clothes. About the G-string, about the pants and dresses and tops. And the silhouettes, often feminine, never gendered. Icon Visions challenged the binary and put on something transparent. And then I think about the people, not merely models but icons. Because Icon Visions never just used bodies; they used personalities. Imagine these three fairy godmothers - that’s what Icon Visions did - Lina Rafn, Mø, and Jada.
Like Tinker Bell’s pixiedust, these popstars know that performance and fashion are about believing in a collective fantasy. Yes, there’s already art, but the audience, the observer, also enables the magic. Icon Visions doesn’t do big sales, they do big parties. Pop, art, parties and pixie dust. Icon Visions and artist Esben Weile Kjær have worked together several times. It’s all somersault green and self-ironic troublemaking, those who dare to say: Talentless but connected. Icon Visions laughs at everyone, especially themselves. What’s the most nostalgic thing you can do? Make a remix. They remixed the Nørgaard stripes, the it-girl top to rule them all, so that no one in high school would ever argue again about who could have which colors. All your favorite jeans got mixed together. And, oh! The reinterpretation of the Flying A bag. It reminded me of Amalie NK from elementary school - I can’t even remember if she worked at Flying A or just had a lot of clothes from there - but I remember the red bag, the wings, and how effortlessly cool she was, is.
Icon Visions has made clothes, TV, art, parties, written fashion history, collaborated with all the cool kids. Icon Visions smokes half a cigarette during recess and chews gum before the next math class. Can one predict the past? Icon Vision did. Nostalgia, youth, pop culture. Things don’t disappear; they just wait for someone to pick them up again and do something new. Icon Visions looked forward by looking back.