Antwerp Fashion Festival draws the international press to Belgium, Walter Van Beirendonck and co give Paris a miss
The inaugural Antwerp.Fashion Festival launched in Antwerp, Belgium, featuring over 100 shows and installations to spotlight local talent, including a 40-year career retrospective by designer Walter Van Beirendonck, who skipped Paris Fashion Week to present his collection in his hometown. The festival, organized by Flanders District of Creativity, drew international press and buyers, with limited seating due to high demand, reinforcing Antwerp’s status as a global fashion hub.
Antwerp’s first-ever Antwerp.Fashion Festival kicked off with over 100 fashion shows, installations, and performances aimed at elevating local designers on the international stage. A key highlight was Walter Van Beirendonck, a member of the legendary Antwerp Six, presenting his 40-year career retrospective titled *‘40 Years Dreaming The World Awake’* at Antwerp’s Boerentoren. Van Beirendonck, who typically participates in Paris Fashion Week, chose to showcase his latest collection in his hometown, calling it ‘a gift to the city and to the people of Belgium.’ The festival coincides with a retrospective exhibition at the Antwerp Fashion Museum, focusing on Van Beirendonck and his fellow Antwerp Six graduates from the early 1980s. Organizers, including Flanders District of Creativity, the City of Antwerp, and fashion museum MoMu, emphasized the event’s role in positioning Antwerp as a global fashion destination. Stefan Ceunen, from Flanders District of Creativity, noted that around 50 foreign journalists and buyers attended previews, with some turned away due to limited seating. Alongside Van Beirendonck, designers like Christian Wijnants, Jan Van Essche, Brandon Wen, and Façon Jacmin showcased exclusive collections. Installations by artists such as Julie Kegels, Florentina Leitner, and Tom Van der Borght, including a massive inflatable artwork at Central Station, added to the festival’s creative lineup. The event underscores Antwerp’s ambition to reclaim its place as a leading international fashion center, leveraging its rich history and contemporary talent.
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