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
Caroline Foulon
Caroline Foulon
Dries Van Noten
Dries Van NotenBiography
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
The beginning
Antwrp is a Belgian men’s fashion brand created in 2006. Antwrp brings luxurious casual clothes, in particular T-shirts, sweaters, jumpers and shirts in beautiful fabrics. The brand name refers to that unique blend of Antwerp fashion, the vintage scene and the city’s multicultural dimension. Antwrp translates the street culture into original print techniques with unique results. Logos and labels bear witness to the high graphical standards and in particular to the eye for details.
The collection’s designer
Antwrp is the brainchild of fashion designer Wouter Hoste. After graduating at the Antwerp Fashion Academy in 1987, he moved to Paris where he designed Jean Paul Gaultier’s Junior collection. In the early nineties, he returned to Belgium to work for various Belgian fashion labels. Wouter Hoste’s style is very graphical. He may be using remarkable colour combinations, but the overall picture remains coherent. His work sometimes refers to Andy Warhol, one of the artists he admires most. Antwrp is distributed by ARW, the fashion agency which distributes many prestigious and trendy brands.
ATOMIUMLAAN 1 PB 8 Brussels 1020 Belgium
APA Intemporal SPRL
APA Intemporal SPRLABOUT US
THE VOYAGE OF APA INTEMPORAL
APA is a Belgian fashion brand that combines high style with deep science. Our name comes from the Sanskrit word for “water,” and our first product, the ĀPA raincoat, was built to live up to its namesake. We take cutting-edge performance technologies and fabrics from the world of extreme sports, and craft them into impeccable, irreverent outerwear for city dwellers, world travelers, and anyone with an eye for style.
After living in Brussels, Paris, New York, and other urban cities where it rains for much of the year, Franco-Belgian high-fashion designer Léa Stein discovered what was missing in the market: a modern coat that merges luxury with technology, effectively protecting wearers from the ever-changing unpredictability of weather while looking their best.
In 2016, Léa founded ĀPA. Her goal was a lofty one: to combine clean silhouettes, immaculate detail, and luxury manufacturing with today’s most innovative performance technologies, all while using sustainable processes and artisan craftsmanship, and producing it, beginning to end, completely within Europe. And that’s exactly what APA has achieved today.
Our first raincoat collection launched in 2019, and is a reflection of our brand’s vision: to take iconic fashion clothing and re-invent it in a way that provides innovative solutions to everyday problems, while keeping the fit, design, and artistry of high-fashion. With a successful Kickstarter campaign, and numerous awards for design and innovation, ĀPA is proud to continue to push luxury fashion forward.
Avenue de la Sapinière 37 Bruxelles 1180 Belgium
STRØM
STRØMAbout STRØM
The unexpected ways of life brought the 4 of us together in the vibrant city of Antwerp, the so-called ‘Stad aan de Stroom’ (hence the name STRØM). During a warm, cosy evening somewhere in May 2017 we started playing with the idea to come up with a clothing brand that combines high-quality fabrics with recognizable, minimalistic icon designs. The Danish Ø is a direct reference to the beauty and simplicity of Scandinavian minimalistic designs. The brand STRØM was born.
Our history of existence is metaphorical for our corporate DNA and the message we want to bring: Life’s too short to not enjoy happiness & friendship!It is our firm conviction that, despite the situation, everyone should be able to experience the joys of life. Therefore, STRØM partnered with Make-A-Wish® Belgium-Vlaanderen in 2018.
Sustainability also flows through our veins. Our products wear the Fair Wear label and comply with the Organic Blended Cotton Standard. In 2019, we closed another partnership with The Plastic Soup Foundation, a leading global advocacy group that tackles the problem of plastic pollution. In order to walk the talk, we were able to decrease the use of plastic in our supply chain to an absolute minimum by banning any plastic wrappers in our packaging process while instead using recyclable boxes.
As you can see, our exciting journey has only just begun. Many adventures and STRØM moments are still ahead of us. We started the journey with 4 and we would be honored if you join the trip.
Diepestraat 122 bus 3 Antwerp 2060 Belgium
BIO
LĒO is a Belgium-based brand that was established in 2016 by artistic director Leonneke Derksen (Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium) and founder Matthias Medaer.
LĒO was created in Paris, while gaining experience at fashion houses like Balenciaga and Carven.
This period was the base on which the vision of the brand was born, as the team got in touch and ultimately became part of a new generation of young designers.
Moving LĒO to the center of Europe (Brussels, Belgium) was a natural outcome of the need for full dedication to the brand and focus on the quality of it’s product, which is produced exclusively in Europe.
VISION
LĒO embodies the energy between luxury, avant-garde and street wear.
Experience over time formed a brand-specific set of values which consist of dedication to self-expression, nostalgia and the desire to push boundaries and evoke excitement.
Inspiration comes from various worlds and aesthetics and combines eras, movements, atmospheres and subcultures, regardless of codes.
Ideas are found in the space between external and internal experience and research is extracted from unique experiences in between quotidien performances and memorable rare involvements.
The brand displays the mind of different generations and the dualities that lie within them.
Attitude, authenticity and honesty are the essence of the LĒO customer.
PRODUCT
At the core of all reflections lays a product which represents a balance of quality and originality.
These products are carfully placed in worlds in which the brand expresses an original take on ‘reality’ and its movements.
LĒO garments oppose seriousness with spontaneity and question common rules with creativity and curiousness.
Wearing LĒO implements appreciation for sophistication and uniqueness. Distinguished shapes turn through worked-out bleaching and dying technics into one of a kind garments for a one of a kind wearer.
LĒO embraces the awkwardness and accentuates it’s inherent potential for innovation which can be recognised in the choice of material and reccurent elements like metal details.
Each collection is a mix of unexpected and iconic elements with a touch of ‘‘no rule“ humor.
This fuse contains on one side traditional tailored or classic technical elements that breathe rationality and on the other side the element of surprise, instinct and emotion.
21-25, Rue Gheude Brussels 1070 Belgium
Work philosophy
After studies in graphic art, I graduated in fashion design from the Francisco Ferrer School (Brussels). I then completed my knowledge within the Federation of Master-tailors of France (Paris). Since 2014, I have been increasing my professional experiences, in Belgium or internationally, with big names like Scabal, Natan or on a personal basis in my own workshop.
Passion in the blood
My grandmother was a seamstress and in a sewing workshop; my mother was a sewing teacher for 25 years. My interest in the profession of tailor came later. It was the artisan side that attracted me then. It’s a rope that I have added to the family tradition. The specificities of his work Both an artisanal tailor and a trained stylist, I strive to blend harmoniously the traditional work of the artisan tailor with current sewing techniques.
Rue de la Ferme Romaine 11 Andenne 5300 Belgium
We build your wardrobe in tune with your needs
Ruben Opheide en Koen Van Weverberg richtten in 2018 het made-to-measure merk SCHAAP op. Hun kijk op maatwerk voor de modern gentlemen ging meteen van bij de start verder dan het klassieke kostuum op maat:
“Het comfort van een pasvorm die als gegoten zit is onevenaarbaar, en niet enkel voor een maatpak. Wij bieden een volledige made-to-measure garderobe: van tailored blazers, hemden en broeken tot Japanese denim en cashmere truien,”vertelt Koen Van Weverberg.
Purchasing quantity is an expense, purchasing quality is an investment
We stellen hoge kwaliteitseisen, zowel op vlak van materialen en leveranciers als de partners die jouw SCHAAP kledingstuk met precisie vervaardigen.
We selecteren alle stoffen en details zelf en gaan hierbij op zoek naar een grote diversiteit in stijlen zodat jij jouw unieke identiteit kan creëren. SCHAAP heeft net hierdoor als Belgisch merk toch een Europees karakter boordevol internationale inspiratie.
A personal service tailored to your needs
Een personal fitting in onze showrooms in Antwerpen of Gent, of op een plek die voor jou het beste past: wij bieden jou waar dan ook onze persoonlijke service. We nemen graag de tijd om te luisteren naar jouw wensen en werken daarom enkel op afspraak.
Ben je op zoek naar een trouwkostuum of een kostuum op maat voor een speciale gelegenheid? Wil je een tijdloze en verfijnde classic of mag je volgende maatpak of kledingstuk extra uitstraling hebben? Samen selecteren we de fijnste stoffen en afwerkingen.
Koen Van Weverberg: “Door te investeren in made-to-measure kledij creëer je als man een unieke garderobe die perfect aansluit bij jou als persoon en waar je je goed in voelt.”
Amerikalei 161 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Zombeekstraat 23 Gent 9031 Belgium
Christian Wijnants
Christian WijnantsChristian Wijnants is an Antwerp-based fashion designer.
Born in Brussels, Christian moved to Antwerp in 1996 to study fashion design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. His graduate collection won the Dries Van Noten Award for best collection in 2000. After graduation, Christian presented his collection at the prestigious Festival d’Hyères, where it was awarded the Grand Prix and picked up by stores including Colette (Paris), Pineal Eye (London), and Via Bus Stop (Tokyo). After working with Van Noten in Antwerp and Angelo Tarlazzi in Paris, Christian launched his eponymous label in 2003.
Christian Wijnants presents his collections in Paris during Paris Fashion Week and is sold at boutiques and department stores worldwide including Barneys, Tomorrowland and Opening Ceremony.
Rich, layered graphics and fresh colors translated into eloquent knitwear offer a play of authenticity and luxury that has won him the 2013 International Woolmark Prize, the 2006 ANDAM Award, and the 2005 Swiss Textiles Award. Christian Wijnants is in collaboration with Swarovski for Spring-Summer 2016 and Autumn- Winter 2016 and has been nominated for Swarovski Collective Prize for Innovation.
Wijnants opened his first flagship store in Antwerp in September 2015.
HEAD OFFICE 215 Italiëlei bus 21 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
36 Steenhouwersvest Antwerp 2000 Belgium