Dries Van Noten
Dries Van Noten
Biography
Born in Antwerp in 1958, Dries Van Noten is the third generation in a family of tailors. At the age of 18, Dries entered the fashion design course of Antwerp’s Royal Academy. On graduating, he began to freelance as a consultant designer before starting his own collection of menswear in 1986. Since its beginnings Dries Van Noten has presented collections for women and men for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter each year. He
celebrated his 50th fashion show in 2004 and 100th fashion show in 2017.
In June 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honoured Dries Van Noten with its International
Designer of the Year Award. 2014 began with the grand opening of Dries Van Noten, “Inspirations”, a first
ever exhibition featuring his designs and influences at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Another
configuration of the exhibit moved to Antwerp in 2015. In July France decorated Dries Van Noten with the
honour of ‘Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.’ In October 2016, Dries Van Noten wins the Culture
Award from The Province of Antwerp for his contribution to Culture.
In June 2018 Puig entered the capital structure of Dries Van Noten as majority owner. The designer remains, over the long term, a significant minority shareholder and continues his role as chief creative officer and chairman of the board.
2019 saw Mr Van Noten collaborate with world renowned fashion designer Mr Christian Lacroix on his
collection for Women, Spring/Summer 2020. In June 2020, and September 2021, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has again nominated Dries Van Noten for its International Designer of the Year Award.
Q&A with dries van noten
When did you know that designing clothes was your path & passion?
There was a certain logic to my choice as my family had been involved in fashion and the garment business for generations. My father created one of Belgium’s most innovative retailers of ‘Pret-a-Porter’ and my grandfather was a tailor. I inherited my love of garment making, its traditions and rituals, from these men and my mother. Family immersed me in the craft and skill of fabrics, impassioned me with the power of flair and style for women and men that fired my quest to explore and question the subjectivity of “beauty” and the role it would play in my life. My family was very supportive and encouraged me to continue its fashion tradition. I regularly accompanied my parents to Paris and Milan on their many buying trips for collections. Though they had imagined I might take over the retail business, that I was passionate to become a fashion designer came as a great surprise to them.
What is your design signature?
I see a garment as a singular item of excellence that is part of a larger story told, firstly, within a designer’s vision for a collection and ultimately as part of the final wearer’s expression of their style through their wardrobe. My joy is to create a garment that fuses and balances beauty, craft and function, a garment that can perform well and continue in time to become part of life’s story. I enjoy juggling with colours, textures and light in a way that evokes rather than provokes.
Where do you come up with your best ideas?
The spark of inspiration for the narrative a collection rarely ever comes in the same way. The initial idea can sometimes come quickly and remain constant throughout the design process… occur on a walk in my garden, encountering a painting or the life and work of an artist. It can be something rarefied or ordinary, for example, suddenly looking at something that has surrounded me every day and seeing it in a different way that inspires. It can be a photograph in a book or a magazine, a re-read passage in a loved book, a conversation with friends or my design team or a piece of music. For other collections the story is more of a journey, deliberate, considered, and evolves through time and the design process. Anything can be that spark that ignites the creative process. What I have learned is that one recognises the spark when it happens, it may not be too planned, be ‘of its time’ and is more emotional than cerebral.
Is there a difference between style and fashion?
Of course, style comes from within..
What colour or fabric would you never use?
None actually! Often, challenging myself to work with colours, fabrics, or forms that I have disliked and bringing them into a collection can be an important aspect of the creative process.
What is beauty?
The idea of beauty is supremely subjective and very personal. Time also plays a role when our view on what is beautiful to us evolves. A flower, a building or a garment can be a thing of wonder for one while leaving another completely indifferent. What was beautiful to us even recently may be ugly today. Luckily, all designers have their own eye on and language of beauty.
What is ugliness?
It resonates in the same way as beauty for me. It is exciting when the formerly ugly becomes beautiful.
Timeline
- 1981 Dries Van Noten graduates from Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp
- 1986 Dries Van Noten started his first own collection of menswear after working as a freelance consultant designer
- 1989 Flagship store opens in Antwerp, Belgium
- 2004 50th Show
- 2007 Paris store opens at Quai Malaquais, Paris France
- 2008 Dries Van Noten wins Internation Designer of the year at CFDA awards./ Dries Van Noten Sacred “Royal Designer for Industry” from the RSA Trustee Board in London
- 2009 Flagship store opens in Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan/ Stores opens for the men at Quai Malaquais, Paris, France
Dries Van Noten Induction to The “Galerie Des Eminents” By The Flemish Chamber Of Commerce (Voka)
Dries van Noten is gifted a gold medal by The Flemish Royal Academy of Belgium
Dries Van Noten Is Honored With the “Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion” By the Couture Council of the Museum at Fit In New York - 2010 Dries Van Noten Is Invited To Preside Over the 25th Edition of the “Festival International De Mode et De Photographie” of Hyres, France
- 2013 Olfactory portrait by Frederic Malle with The Nose Bruno Jonanovic
- 2014 xhibition at The Musée Des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France
A book that accompanied his exhibition at Musée des arts Décoratifs in Paris, France - 2015 Dries Van Noten is decorated by Jack Lang of the medal
Opening of Dries Van Noten Osaka - 2016 Wins Culture Award from The Province of Antwerp
- 2017 An intimate portrait into the life, mind and creative heart the designer
A book in two volumes that depicts and documents his first 100 collection and Fashion shows
In recognition of his career as fashion designer and his contribution to the Cultural life of his native land - 2018 DVN enters in partnership with Puig as Major Stakeholders
- 2019 Collaboration with Mr Christian Lacroix
- 2020 Nominated by The CFDA for International Designer of The Year Award
Stores opens in Shanghai, China
Flagship stores opens in Los Angeles, USA the first Dries Van Noten store in the Unites States of America
Godefriduskaai 36 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Walter Van Beirendonck
Walter Van BeirendonckPERSONAL FACTS:
• Born: 04.02.57, Brecht, Belgium
• Studies: Fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp
• First breakthrough: British Designer Show / London in 1987 as part of ‘The Antwerp Six’
(with Dirk Van Saene, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester and Marina Yee).
• Since 1983 collections under the label Walter Van Beirendonck
RECENT ACTIVITIES:
• HEAD FASHION-DEPARTMENT ROYAL ACADEMY ANTWERP
• Childrens Collection ZULUPAPUWA for JBC
• Designer collection Walter Van Beirendonck
WOEST – Autumn/Winter 2016-2017
Electric eye – Spring Summer 2016
Explicit Beauty – Autumn/Winter 2015-2016
WHAMBAM! – Spring/Summer 2015
Crossed Crocodiles Growl – Autumn/Winter 2014-2015
Home Sweet Home – Summer 2014
Shut your eyes to see – Autumn/Winter 2013-2014
Silent Secrets- Summer 2013
Lust Never Sleeps- Autumn/Winter 2012-2013
Cloud #9 – Spring/Summer 2012
Hand on Heart – Autumn/Winter 2011-2012
Read My Skin – Summer 2011
Take a W-ride – Autumn/Winter 2010-2011
Wonde® – Spring/Summer 2010
Glow – Autumn/Winter 2009-2010
eXplicit – Spring/Summer 2009
SKIN KING – Autumn/Winter 2008-2009
SEXCLOWN – Spring/Summer 2008
STOP TERRORISING OUR WORLD – Autumn/Winter 2006-2007
RELICS FROM THE FUTURE – Spring/Summer 2006
WEIRD – Autumn/Winter 2005-2006
SUPERNATURAL – Spring/Summer 2005
CLOUDY STARS – Autumn/Winter 2004-2005
FUTUREDAY – Spring/Summer 2004
• 1999-until 2004: æstheticterrorists® by walter
PIXYDUST – Autumn/winter 2003-2004
RESPECT RETHINK REACT – Spring/Summer 2003
FLY OR VANISH – Autumn/Winter 2002-2003
BODY:XtensionXfashion – Spring/Summer 2002
• 1999-untill 2002: Walter Van Beirendonck
REVOLUTION – Autumn/Winter 2001-2002
STARSHIP EARTH – Spring/Summer 2001
DISSECTIONS – Autumn/Winter 2000-2001
GENDER? – Spring/Summer 2000
NO REFERENCES – Autumn/Winter 1999-2000
• Since 1985 is Walter teaching in the fashion-department from the Royal Academy of
Arts-Antwerp/Belgium
• In 1998 opened Walter Van Beirendonck ,’Walter’ , a multilabel store,with annex the
‘window’-gallery, St.Antoniusstraat 12 – Antwerp/Belgium
• Between I993 and 1999:designer of W.&L.T./Wild and Lethal Trash
Last collection designed by Walter was: Hi Sci Fi: Spring/Summer 1999
INSPIRATION: •••top
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Since his early collections, Walter has been inspired for his designs
by art, music and literature, all mixed with ethnic and nature influences.
Walter Van Beirendonck is considered to be one of the main trend-setters
in men’s fashion by the professional press.
His designs are very recognisable by either strong graphics
or innovating cuts and unexpected colour combinations .
The red thread throughout his collections is his sense of humour,
sex with an eye-wink and his concern about ‘safe sex’.
His continous statements about the fashion-world,earth,nature, contemporary life
and society are collected in prints and slogans.
Often ‘double bottomed’!
Always in a complete unconventional context.
Since 1983 carries every collection a well-defined name.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
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Walter works besides the collections,regurarely on projects:
• Designing costumes for theater, ballet and film,curating expositions,designing objects,
think-thank for commercial projects and products,image-making for pop-groups,
illustrating books,designing commercial collections…
• Walter is buyer for the ‘Walter’-store and co-curater for the ‘Window’-gallery.
• Due to Walter’s intrest in ‘Cyber’-technology,W.&L.T. was the first fashionlabel,which
launched a full-CD-rom and Website, showing besides the collections, information and self-designed games.
EXHIBITIONS
Walter Van Beirendonck / Aestheticterrorists /
W< by Walter Van Beirendonck from 1986
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Momu Antwerp / Belgium
Exposition : ‘Happy Birthday Dear Academy’ – 2013/2014
RMIT Design Hub / Melbourne Australia
Exposition : ‘Dream The World Awake’ – 2013
Momu Antwerp / Belgium
Exposition : ‘Dream The World Awake’ – 2011/2012
Selfridges London / UK
Participation-exposition : Selfridges / Judith Clark – 2011
Galeri Peithner-Lichtenfels Vienna /Austria
Participation-exposition : Anti Depressiva – 2011
Benaki Museum Athens / Greece
Participation-exposition : ARRRHG! Monsters in Fashion – 2011
Song Song Vienna/Austria
Exposition : ‘Paradise Pleasure Productions’ – 2010
Zand Eindhoven / Netherlands
Participation-Exposition : ‘Glass Works’ – 2010
Momu Antwerp / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘Stephen Jones & the Accent of Fashion’ – 2010
Art Brussels
Participation-Exposition : ‘Triple X – Wonde® Gallery – 2010
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Rotterdam / Netherlands
Participation-Exposition : ‘The art of Fashion – Installing Allusions’ – 2009
Galerie Polaris Paris / France
Participation-Exposition : ‘2357’ – 2009
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag / Netherlands
Participation-Exposition : ‘De ideale man’ – 2008
Metropolitan Museum of Art New York / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Superheroes, Fashion and Fantasy’ – 2008
Modemuseum Hasselt / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘Ten dans gevraagd’ – 2008
Nationaal glasmuseum Leerdam, in Fort Asperen / Netherlands
Participation-Exposition : ‘De ideale man’ – 2008
Oude Gevangenis Hasselt / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘Dichter op de huid’ – 2008
Science Gallery Dublin / Ireland
Participation-Exposition : ‘Technothreads, What fashion did next’ – 2008
Victoria and Albert Museum London / UK
Participation-Exposition : ‘Fashion V’ – 2008
Benaki Museum Athens / Greece
Participation-Exposition : RRRIPP!!, paper fashion – 2007
Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology New York / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Exotism’ – 2007
Speelgoed museum Mechelen / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : Speelgoed van… – 2007
Vlaam Parlement, de loketten Brussels / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘6+ Antwerpse Mode – 2007
MoMu Antwerp / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘De MoMu Collectie – Selectie II’ – 2006
3. Biennale Berlin Germany
Video Installation – 2004
Lille / France
Dreamcube Installation – European Cultural Capital – 2004
MoMu Antwerp / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘Malign Muses, when fashion turns back’ exhibition – 2004
Musée de design et d’arts appliques contemporains Lausanne / Swiss
Participation-Exposition : ‘Body Extentions’ – 2004
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Skin Tight / The Sensibility of the Flesh’ – 2004
Forum – Fashion Nation Antwerp / Belgium
Exposition : Ballet costumes designed for ‘Not Strictly Rubens’ – 2003
Lidewij Edelkoort Fort Asperen Netherlands
Installation ‘Weest steeds waakzaam’ – Armour, the fortification of Man – expositions – 2003
MoMu Antwerp / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘Patterns’ – 2003
Musée de la Mode Paris / France
Participation-Exposition : ‘Trop’ – 2003
Museum of Applied Arts Cologne / Germany
Participation-Exposition : ‘Koerprnah – Koerperfern’ – 2003
Selfridges London / UK
Participation : Body Vision Project, representing the ‘Playful Body’ – 2003
MoMu Antwerp / Belgium
Participation-Exposition : ‘Backstage’ – 2002
National Design Museum New York / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Skin’, curated by Cooper Hewit – 2002
Victoria & Albert Museum London / UK
Participation-Exposition : ‘Men in Skirts’ – 2002
Bon Marché Rive Gauche Paris – France
Participation-Exposition : ‘Les collections d’art des couturiers et créateurs mode’ – 2001
Kobe Fashion Museum Japan
Participation-Exposition : ‘Mohr: Colour and Space part 5 Sayoko’- 2001
Metropolitan Museum of Art New York / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Extreme beauty’ – 2001
Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology New York / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Belgian Fashion Design : Antwerp Style’ – 2001
Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam / Netherlands
Participation-Exposition : ‘Exorcism / Aesthetic Terrorism’ – 2000
CCAC San Francisco / USA
Participation-Exposition : ‘Fast Forward’ – 2000
Elena Levi Roma / Italy
Participation-Exposition : Curated by Haim Steinbach – 2000
Galerie Enrico Navarra Paris / France
Participation-Exposition : ‘Le Corps Mutant’ – 2000
Grimaldi Forum / Monaco
Participation-Exposition : ‘Air Air’ exhibition – 2000
New York / USA
Installation Summer 2001 ‘Starship Earth’- collection – 2000
Hasselt / Belgium
Installation-Exposition : ‘In de Ban van de Ring’ – 1999
Kuenstlerhaus Vienna Austria
Participation-Exposition : ‘Fast Forward’ – 1999
Metropolitan Museum of Art Tokyo/Japan
Participation-Exposition and catalogue :
‘Vision of the Body : Fashion Invisible Corset’ with Video ‘Fetish for Beauty’ – 1999
Biennale di Firenze Italy
Installation at Stazione Leopolda (Fashion/Cinema) – 1998
Installation in context of New Universe / Personna – 1996
Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam / Netherlands
Walter Van Beirendonck/W.&L.T. exhibition in collaborationwith Marc Newson – 1998
Design Museum London / UK
Participation-Exposition : ‘Welcome Little Stranger / Men in Black ‘Erotic Design’ – 1997
Louvre Paris/France
Participation-Exposition : Musée de la Mode – 1997
Copenhagen / Denmark
Installation – European Cultural Capital – 1996
Fashion Museum of Marseille / France
Exposition : ’10 years Walter Van Beirendonck 86-96′ – 1996
CURATOR – PROJECTS
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Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam / Netherlands
Curator ‘Surreal Things, Surrealism and Design’ – 2007
Die Zeit Hamburg / Germany
Art Director for a special fashion issue of ‘Die Zeit’
Phaidon
Co-curator for the ‘Fashion-Cream’ Project (published – 2005)
Selfridges London / UK
Co-curator and designer of the windows for the Body Craze Festival – 2003
Sleazenation
Anti-War poster – 2003
Fashion show in Moscow and St. Petersburg – 2002
Mode 2001 Landed-Geland Antwerp / Belgium
Curator from 1999-2002 : Landed/Geland. Fashionproject conceived for the city of Antwerp
4 Exhibitions : ‘2 Women’, ‘Mutilate ?’, ‘The Radicals’, ‘Emotions’
A,B, C Magazine, Exhibition – Catalogues, Merchandising – Project – 1999-2001
Realisation video:
‘Revolution’ – Autumn/Winter 2001-2002
Moët & Chandon
‘L’esprit du Siècle’-award for the Six of Antwerp – 2000
Awarded title ‘Cultural Ambassador of Flanders – 1999
Nomination Fashion Awards in New York – 1998
Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam / Netherlands
Curator ‘Kiss the future’. ‘Shop-Installation’- Project with Marc Newson – 1998
COOPERATIONS
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U2 / BONO
Outfits for the ‘Popmart’ tour
Mustang
Creatin gthe W< – Universum
Coca Cola
Coke – can for the ‘Coke light Fashion Edition Belgium’
Eastpak
Limited Edition by Walter Van Beirendonck
Nissan
Makeover of a Nissan Micra for the Brussels Automobile Fair.
It was sold in favour of the Aids Research department at the Antwerp Tropical Institute.
Theater Company Amsterdam
Costumes for ‘The massacre at Paris’ (Director : Ivo Van Hove)
Royal Ballet of Flanders
Costumes for ‘Not Strictly Rubens’
Rei Kawakubo
Cooperation for Landed 2001 / ‘2 Women’ – Art Directin 5 shows of Comme des Garçons in Antwerp
Marc Newson
Cooperation for Shopconcept W< presented on 13 and 14 March in Paris
‘Kiss the future’ Exhibition in the Boijmans-Van Beuningen Museum Rotterdam
Orlan
Cooperation for Catalogue ‘Believe’
Juergen Teller
Cooperation for fashionshoots and publications
Lidewij Edelkoort
Cooperation on different levels
Tropical Institute Antwerp department Aids research
Fundraising through regular projects
Liveball Vienna
Benefit Fashion show 2000 / Vienna – Austria
Amnesty International
design of Amnesty International T-shirt on the occasion of their 40th Anniversary for fundraising
Ronald Stoops
Cooperation for photoshoots
Inge Grognard
Cooperation for Make-up – projects
Mondino
Cooperation for photoshoots and Portraits of Walter
Bloomingdales
Interactive Windows, New York Fashion Week: exclusive W.&L.T. shopwindows / New York – USA
Starlab
Consultant for intelligent clothing / I – Wear Project / Brussels – Belgium
Woolmark
Lecturer and guest of honour / Melbourne – FFashion Festival Australia
Belgian Television VTM
In cooperation with JBC, Art Director for Levenslijn – Fundraising Project ‘I love Stars’
Bang & Olufsen
Lecture about colour for Bang & Olufsen, Denmark
Paul Boudens
Cooperation for Graphics, catalogues and magazines
Vivienne Westwood
Regular invitations as jury member – Hochschule der Bildenden Kuenste, Berlin
Mr. Pearl
Cooperation on the Mr. Pearl – Room – Landed/Geland 2001
Stephen Jones
Cooperation in several ‘Hat – Projects’
the Avalanches- Australia
T-shirt-project – 2002
Joan Morey
Text-contribution to catalogue of Bad Boys-project/Bienale of Venice
PUBLICATIONS
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Mutilate
Book of Walter Van Beirendoncks first ten years of fashion, launched by Imschoot Uitgevers.
Full colour reproductions and technical tour-de-force on the book manufacturer.
Complete with post-it, stickers, cut-outs and pop-ups… – 1998
Believe
Catalogue bringing together visions of Marc Newson, Orlan and Walter Van Beirendonck.
Especially realised for the exhibition : ‘Kiss the future’ – 1998
Kiss the future
CD-rom
Due to Walter Van Beirendoncks interest in ‘Cyber’ – technology, W< was the first fashionlabel, which
launched a full CD-rom and website, showing besides the collections, information and self-designed games
Paradise Pleasure Productions
CD-rom
Due to Walter Van Beirendoncks interest in ‘Cyber’ – technology, W< was the first fashionlabel, which
launched a full CD-rom and website, showing besides the collections, information and self-designed games
Magazines and Newspaper Publications
See http://www.waltervanbeirendonck.com -> publications
BIG bvba Aalmoezeniersstraat 2 – 1st floor Antwerp 2000 Belgium
Kristof Buntinx
Kristof BuntinxBrussels designer Kristof Buntinx has already created a furore with his God Save the Queens shirts and gained international fame with a boxer short collection with which he targeted Russian anti-gay laws.
Protest and irony are therefore no strangers to Buntinx, but he also dresses Belgian celebrities in little bespoke gems just as much as he has children photographed as superstars. The exiled Sint-Truiden native has been working under his own label for more than a decade. An official introduction is called for!
Kristof Buntinx was born on 10 September 1975 in the Limburg town of Sint-Truiden. He quickly showed an interest in fashion and design and proceeded to draw from a model and attended sewing and pattern design classes. Buntinx completed internships with several major fashion labels such as Levis jeans and the Amsterdam fashion duo Viktor & Rolf.
His own image language
After his initial designs for the Cinderella Shop in Antwerp he sank his teeth into (and left his fingerprints on) a series of coffee mugs for Godiva. Soon Buntinx would tackle hats, a trick he was able to repeat in 2012 for Royal Ascot.
Shortly thereafter, the Pain clothing line followed, with its own photo series in collaboration with Stijn Vanorbeek. Still inspired by the world of image creation, Buntinx worked with filmmaker Ilke De Vries, this time to explore moving images. The film Vision was the result, in which the designer searched his own conscience by referring to a personal crisis.
Artist’s blood
Between 2008 and 2010 Buntinx focused on hats and a full line of accessories.
Triggered by his own life and personal developments, language associations and puns took up an increasingly important place in his work. Like any true-blue artist, Buntinx also creates from an inner drive. “I have always been crazy about fashion, but designing also proved to be beneficial for my mental health. It is my “therapy with a capital T,” the designer states.
Once Buntinx found his way, an increasing number of opportunities came up: in 2011 the Toga 125 Fashion Awards and a fashion show in which his design Ceci n’est pas un Advocaat shone. That same year Modo Brussels, the MIAT in Ghent and Hong Kong Design week also followed. A prominent fashion watcher from the UK even called Buntinx the most eccentric fashion designer of the Modo Brussels event.
The future is now!
Loved by the international fashion blog scene, Kristof Buntinx does not shun controversy. For example, he came up with a series of socially committed designs such as his answer to the Antwerp rainbow controversy, the God Save the Queens T-shirt’, his Russian boxer shorts, which even reached the American media and the crown jewels for King Philip.
During the last festive period Buntinx surprised friend and foe with a range of crisis jewellery, which questions material luxury. The Christmas dresses designed by Buntinx for Dana Winners’ Christmas tour and for Marlène de Wouters, the presenter at the Queen Elisabeth competition earlier in 2013, were, on the other hand, downright luxurious.
Kristof Buntinx certainly aims to let his designs speak for themselves in 2015.
Stay tuned!
Raf Simons
Raf SimonsBORN NEERPELT, BELGIUM IN 1968.
GRADUATES IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND FURNITURE DESIGN IN 1991 AND STARTS WORKING AS A FURNITURE DESIGNER FOR GALLERIES AND PRIVATE INTERIORS. BEFORE THIS, RAF SIMONS INTERNED AT THE DESIGN STUDIO OF WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK, WORKING ON THE PRESENTATION AND DECORATION OF THE VAN BEIRENDONCK SHOWROOMS AND COLLECTIONS.
IN A RADICAL CHANGE OF PROFESSION, HEREBY ENCOURAGED BY LINDA LOPPA, HEAD OF THE FASHION DEPARTMENT OF THE ANTWERP ROYAL ACADEMY, HE BECOMES A SELF-TRAINED MENSWEAR DESIGNER IN 1995 AND LAUNCHES HIS RAF SIMONS LABEL.
DESIGNS THE MENSWEAR OUTFITS FOR RUFFO RESEARCH (SPRING-SUMMER 1999 AND AUTUMN-WINTER 1999-2000).
OCTOBER 2000, RAF SIMONS IS APPOINTED HEAD PROFESSOR OF THE FASHION DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED ARTS, VIENNA, AUSTRIA UNTIL JUNE 2005.
WINS FIRST PRIZE SWISS TEXTILES AWARD, LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND IN NOVEMBER 2003.
PRESENTS ‘RAF SIMONS REDUX’, A BOOK BY PETER DE POTTER AND RAF SIMONS (PUBLISHED BY CHARTA/FONDAZIONE PITTI DISCOVERY) COINCIDING WITH HIS LABEL’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY. ‘RAF SIMONS 1995-2005’, A FASHION/ART EVENT AT THE GIARDINI DI BOBOLI IN FLORENCE, ITALY (INITIATED AND PRODUCED BY THE FONDAZIONE PITTI DISCOVERY, JUNE 2005) EQUALLY CELEBRATES HIS FIRST DECADE IN FASHION.
NAMED CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF JIL SANDER (MENSWEAR AND WOMENSWEAR) FROM JULY 2005 UNTIL FEBRUARY 2012.
APRIL 2011, RAF SIMONS IS PRESIDENT OF THE FASHION JURY OF THE HYÈRES 26TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
CURATES TRANSMISSION 1, A THREE-DAY MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVENT IN BERLIN INITIATED AND SPONSORED BY MERCEDES-BENZ IN JULY 2011.
APRIL 2012 – NOMINATED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN DIOR FOR WOMEN’S HAUTE COUTURE, READY-TO-WEAR AND ACCESSORY COLLECTIONS. RAF SIMONS PRESENTS HIS FIRST HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION IN JULY 2012.
LIVES AND WORKS IN ANTWERP, BELGIUM.
The most important message Raf Simons wants to communicate is:
PRIDE IN INDIVIDUALITY.
Fuelled by his love for both rebellious youth cultures and traditional menswear, he emerges in fashion halfway through the nineties, presenting a radically different image of masculinity. Fusing the energy and singularity of teenage subcultures with the sharpness and precision of classical sartorial craft, the look presented by Raf Simons is both inspired by and designed for confident outsiders.
From the first collection on, music, art, performance, images and words have a substantial role in the whole package, summing up, or rather clarifying the kind of world Raf Simons wants to project. Always at the core of his universe (and as essential as the clothes themselves) are attitudes, moods and statements about individuality and independence.
Equally important in Raf Simons’ approach is the constant quest for innovation. The designs are always looking for the now and tomorrow, even if they are inspired by historical or classical references. Throughout the years, with the signature style evolving and maturing, the key elements stay the same: modern proportions, a constant research for fabrics and textures and above all the interplay of pure construction and new shapes with the body and psyche of the contemporary man.
Very Important Pixels is a fresh brand that features iconic pixel portraits on fashionable tops and sweaters. Inspired by 80s video games, Belgian designer Kristof Saelen has developed an original and unique style in which he handcrafts his works pixel by pixel
Very Important Pixels™ is a series of illustrations inspired by icons from the past and present. Each pixel portrait has been manually crafted starting from a blank canvas.
A selected collection of works was featured on apparel and other fashionable merchandise and got picked up by world-renowned boutiques such as Kitson (LA), Patricia Field (NYC), Colette (Paris), Spectrum (Milan), Venturer (Tokyo) and many more. Online prominent mentions and interviews include features on Wired, El País (Spain), My Modern Met and numerous blogs and papers. T-shirts and merch are still available online.
Visit our Rarible collection to find limited edition collectibles, hosted on the Ethereum blockchain in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Each purchased artwork automatically registers the buyer as a certified owner and unlocks secret features such as exclusive access to source files and unpublished artwork versions.
Heimweh
Heimweh
Founded in 2010, HEIMWEH is a luxury men’s undergarments collection that embraces high quality, extreme comfort and timeless design. The name of the brand translated means longing for ones home or country, in this case a nostalgic feeling of missing something that we can’t bring back, or maybe can… The illustrated logo is a trigger to reflect the good old days; positive sensations connected to places, a smell or objects; a phase in time , someone we loved or still love…
Sandro Faber, founder of the collection explores the boundaries between innocent, sometimes naive, and rational side of his character. Brought up by a family of croatian imigrants and moving back to his parents homeland at young age resulted with an exploration of his sense of belonging to a certain place and question what and where is ones home.
The combination of sharp social realistic aesthetics, and poetic, playful nature that he draws from his Slavic background results in an unique character of his collections.
ACHTERLAND VOF Toekomststraat 22 Antwerpen 2140 Belgium
Cycleur de Luxe
Cycleur de LuxeBRAND INFO
CYCLEUR de LUXE is a lifestyle brand with a wide range of women, men and kids shoes and a brand new women and men textile collection. The story of CYCLEUR de LUXE starts with the world of cycling. We get our trends and the inspiration for our trends from the Belgian cycling culture.
We offer a diverse collection of women’s, men’s and kids trainers. The collection runs from signature to innovative footwear. CYCLEUR de LUXE tries to combine affordable, comfortable, innovative and trendy shoes. The stylish footwear is made of sturdy and high-quality leather, and makes use of colors that ensure a timeless design.
CYCLEUR de LUXE also offers a range of ecological men’s shoes. With awareness for people and the environment, CYCLEUR de LUXE has developed a sustainable shoe line, the RE>CYCLEUR line. The shoes are made of recycled materials and chrome free leather.
After years of preparation and months of hard work, our first CYCLEUR de LUXE apparel collection for men and women is finally on the market! It is a dream to style people from head to toe and this is the next step to accomplish this goal.
The sneaker and textile collections are offered online or in over 450 dealer locations. For a store nearby, check our store locator.
Antoon Catriestraat 39C Drongen 9031 Belgium
JASNA ROKEGEM
A young and energetic pioneer in combining innovative fashion and cutting-edge technology. Not only in creating unique projects and collections, but also in bringing these to life by using techniques such as virtual and augmented reality. She has a strong vision on the clothing of the future and how it can add value to our daily lives. To achieve more and think further, Jasna likes working closely together with professional partners from around the globe.
These collaborations and projects brought her a lot of recognition and exposure. As a result she received various awards, gives lectures and gets invited to big events in different fields.
In January 2016, aged 23, she founded Jasna Rok, the first FashTech design studio in Belgium.
Jasna Rok provides a window to show the endless possibilities of technology and science today, by making them visible, tangible and understandable for the big audience through interactive fashion.
Raapstraat 6 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Jean Paul Knott
Jean Paul Knott
ABOUT Jean-Paul KNOTT
JEANPAULKNOTT is a label for women and men sensitive to quality, originality and exclusivity.
Jean-Paul Knott has a travelling soul. He is Belgian, has grown up in New York and works in Brussels. He collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent for 11 years. He has been the artistic director of Krizia, Louis Féraud, Cerruti and has created costumes for Maurice Béjart ballets. He presents his JEANPAULKNOTT women and menswear collections on a regular basis since 2000.
Jean-Paul Knott explores the line, shows an ethereal nonchalance and impalpable elegance that makes his signature look. He mixes all the codes, masculine and feminine, ready-to-wear / Couture. He invites you to travel, fold, transform and he collaborates readily to his artist friends’ work.
RUE FRANZ MERJAY 147 IXELLES 1050 Belgium
About
1961: Birth
The story begins in a little village in south eastern Turkey. We are Sunday, it is October 29, 1961, Manufer Gulcu was born. Coming from a modest family, his father is farrier and his mother is housewife. In 1966, the family leaves the village to settle in the city, where his father opens his own workshop and reconverts into the manufacturing of horse saddles. During his early childhood, Manufer goes to school while working in his father’s workshop, where he gets familiar with a craftsmanship profession.
1972: Arrival in Istanbul
In 1972, Manufer Gulcu arrived with his family in Istanbul. The city is large and living conditions difficult, forcing Manufer to quit school at the age of 11 to find work. After accumulating odd jobs, Manufer found an apprentice position in a workshop located in the Beyazit district of Istanbul and discovered the profession of sewing there. Skillful with his hands, he quickly learns and develops technical skills. Very early on, working with leather and natural materials fascinates and ambitions him.
1978: Opening of his first workshop
In 1978, when he was only 17 years old, Manufer becomes an experienced couturier, the most respected position in the profession. His boss then offered him to take over the management of the workshop. He will accept the proposal and team up with his best friend to lead a team of eight workers. At a time considered to be the beginnings of the golden age of leather, Manufer saw its activity grow steadily.
1981: Arrival in Belgium
In 1981, in a tumultuous socio-economic context, Manufer decided to leave Istanbul for Europe, where everything had to be rebuilt. He will work for 3 years in different sewing workshops until the opening of his own workshop, which will later allow him to meet his wife. At that time, the importance of leather and shearling in the world of ready-to-wear was at its peak.
1987: The workshop burns down
On November 12, 1987, the building where the workshop is located burned down. Once again, everything has to be rebuilt. The accident prompted Manufer to renovate the Maison de Maître in Brussels located at 138 Avenue du Roi. He set up his workshops there, which he named MANUFERO, as a tribute to his origins. There he will develop his activities of creation, sales to professionals and individuals. He will also put his couturier know-how at the service of other designers, and will collaborate with prestigious houses such as Natan, Yves Saint-Laurent, Kris Van Assche and Jean-Paul Knot.
1992: 29thOctober is born
In his spirit of creation, Manufer Gulcu decides to put a name on his collections. In 1992, he created his brand, 29THOCTOBER, referring to a triple symbolic date for him and his family.
1999: Marie-Claire France
In 1999, the 29THOCTOBER brand obtained its first publication in a renowned magazine, Marie-Claire France.
2004: Paris international fair
In 2004, the 29THOCTOBER brand was present for the first time at the international ready-to-wear fair in Paris. This event will open the doors of French boutiques to the Maison and give it its European dimension.
2012: MIEL Catwalk
In 2012, the Maison took part in its very first fashion show, the MIEL Catwalk, and presented a preview of its winter 2013-2014 collection.
2018: The team is growing
In 2018, the 29THOCTOBER team is growing and becomes more than ever a family house. Benjamin and Lucie, Manufer’s children, join the company and give it a digital dimension by creating the online store.
2020: The range is growing
The brand takes precedence over innovation and diversification. More than ever willing to perpetuate its craftsmanship and put its know-how at the service of innovative and committed fashion, 29THOCTOBER is launching its first capsule collection in vegetable leather. On the occasion of its birthday, October 29, 2020, the brand unveils its bag line.
Avenue du Roi 138 Brussels 1190 Belgium
Rue Joseph Stevens 41 Brussels 1000 Belgium