In 2007, during the Arnhem Fashion Biennial, the collector Han Nefkens presented the H+F Fashion Award to the Belgian accessories designer Christophe Coppens. Coppens was awarded 20,000 Euros and invited to make new work and a new installation, which were shown in Platform 21 in Amsterdam from November 2008 until January 2009. The book No References has been published in connection with this project and focusses on the design process of this new work. A large part of the book is devoted to the various stages of the work. In addition, essays and highlights from Coppens’ CV deal with Coppens’ career and the backgrounds of collector Han Nefkens. The couture accessories that Coppens has made for the No References project are without references. Coppens: “A collection of couture accessories departing from a new zero point. A deliberately imposed restriction, arising from the need for the challenge to not make a variation of the things I know and can. What if my favourite elements are left out – references to film, people, history…. What are my limits as a designer, and – imagine that I no longer know anything – what do I then make…?” Christophe Coppens began his career as a theatre director and decor and costume designer. In the meantime he has evolved into a leading designer of accessories. Besides his own shops in Belgium and Tokyo, he sells his collection worldwide at more than 140 retail outlets.