A journey through 60 years of aluminum surface finishing

60 years VOA — Anniversary celebration with glamour: An extraordinary fashion project showed the competence of aluminum surface coating through six decades. (Image: VOA / F. Foehlinger)

Aluminum only becomes functional and decorative with the right coating. The fact that the material can make not only industry but also fashion fascinating was proven by the Association for the Surface Finishing of Aluminum (VOA) at its anniversary celebration on June 23 in Munich.

Since 1962 (when it was still known as the ELOXAL Association), the VOA has been committed to the subject of aluminum surface finishing. Sixty years of successful work were therefore to be celebrated in the circle of member companies and more than 130 international guests from politics, business and the media invited. They all eagerly awaited the presentation of the fashion project "stories of surfaces - 60 years of surface finishing of aluminum in fashion images", which the VOA had brilliantly realized together with the AMD Akademie Mode & Design. After the welcome by Friedhelm U. Scholten, the newly elected chairman of the association, fashion expert Patricia Riekel, the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Bunte", led the audience through the collection - and thus through the decades. The fashion show highlighted the most important fashion themes of the individual decades. At the same time, it was a showcase for the surface finishing industry with its wide variety of colors, different haptics and proven qualifications.

60 YEARS VOA Fashion from Aluminum — As shrill as the 80s and a tribute to pop icon Madonna - the audience was thrilled by the fashion students' designs (Image: VOA / F. Föhlinger)

The spirit of the times from six decades brought to life

With the help of the lively moderation and the exhibits, the respective zeitgeist quickly came to life. In addition, the guests were easily guided through the history of the association and the technical developments. The designs for the 50s already clearly showed the creativity of the students of the Academy of Fashion and Design (AMD). The two costumes, for which 50 square meters of aluminum had been processed, looked light and lively and were glamorously presented by two models. For the Swinging Sixties, two mini dresses followed in typical A-line shape with bold colors and eye-catching patterns.

After the first course of the anniversary dinner, which was inspired by the culinary preferences of the past six decades, the models presented the cool-casual style mix of the 70s as well as the flashy looks of the 80s. Here, strong Sandalor colors as well as garish neon colors dominated, followed by an homage to the stage outfits of singer Madonna or the oversize blazer. The 90s then showed the evolution "from girlie to raver". A light-blue "denim skirt" with a distinctive neon pink jacket - both made of coated aluminum, of course - were clearly voted the most popular fashion piece of the evening in the final vote. Sexy in belly-free bustier and "net skirt", made of only one piece of surface-finished aluminum, as well as futuristic came the 2000s on the catwalk.

A coat as a symbol of solidarity

The crowning glory of the fashion show was an almost three-meter-long mantle covered with 650 octagonal tiles, each bearing the logos of the member companies - a symbol of the cohesion within the VOA. Every tile counts, because every anodizer, coater and paint stripper contributes their skills and professionalism to the overall work of the association. There was a standing ovation from the guests for the brilliant highlight of the collection. VOA thanked the famous patrons of the extraordinary collection: Daniel Wingate and Talbot Runhof. The anniversary evening, where the glamorous fashion collection illustrated the great flexibility and outstanding design potential of the industry, will certainly remain in unique memory of all those present and involved.

VOA - Association for the surface finishing of aluminum e. Vwww.voa.de