WELCOME TO
OUR BEAUTIFUL
CHAOS
Essentiel Antwerp stands for refreshing, offbeat & luxurious fashion, renowned for its graphic or floral prints and trendy mixes of color. The rich and unique collections are designed to provoke an emotional response.
STEP INTO OUR WORLD WHERE IMAGINATION AND BEAUTY REIGN, WHERE LACK OF ORDER CREATES A SPACE FOR SURPRISE.
The Antwerp-based brand is influenced by the numerous life experiences of its founders Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea. Esfan, the son of Nicole Cadine, grew up in a world of textiles, sketches and fashion collections. Inge had a vintage loving mother, was a fashion model and spent five years in India, where she fell in love with colors, prints and unexpected combinations.
WE WANT
TO BE YOUR
PINK PILL
In 1999 Esfan and Inge took a chance and launched a T-shirt collection. Four styles, twenty different colors: their response to the monochrome fashion landscape. After a year, the first store opened in Antwerp. Four seasons later, knitwear, jackets, dresses, shirts, and trousers in trendy colors, new materials, and an entire range of accessories were added. Essentiel Antwerp grew into a global brand with a powerful message of love, fun, and colorful surprises. A universal message that translates anywhere and everywhere in the world.
WE WANT
TO BATTLE
BOREDOM
WE CONSIDER OUR ACCESSORIES AS THE CHILLI PEPPERS IN OUR ALREADY TASTY DISH.
LIFE LOOKS BETTER IN COLOR: STAY CURIOUS AND ORIGINAL TO KEEP THINGS SURPRISING AND CELEBRATE LIFE.
Arenbergstraat 21 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Tales and Tailoring
Created in winter 2012, with passionate know-how, and addressed to informed connoisseurs, the new Belgian brand created by Marcy Szwarcburt reflects an original concept of nightwear to be worn both indoors and outdoors during the day as by night, chic and trendy.
An absolute Must Have for the happy few
A subtle blend of cool elegance, nonchalance and an aristocratic dandy fantasy.
A quintessential dress code for the cream of the crop
A variation of subtle materials and very high quality accessories has been selected to create this collection and translate the brand’s philosophy.
Pure Pima cottons, double and triple twisted, crisp poplins, oxfords or plain or lined cotton satins, checks or dots.
Exclusive prints are created each season according to its theme.
Mother-of-pearl buttons, braids, piping, and edging finish the garment which will be embroidered with interlaced double MM for the final touch.
The man behind the brand
Marcy Szwarcburt created his first pajamas in 1984
After more than 22 years at the helm of Donaldson and five years of wise thinking, Marcy has kept intact his aesthetic sense and his taste for things well done.
His know-how and his passion for beautiful materials, impeccable cuts and finishes as well as a very personal sense of humor are found in his new creation Maison Marcy
rue de l’Abbaye 7 Brussels 1050 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
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
•••top
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:
•••top
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
•••top
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
•••top
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
•••top
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
•••top
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
Terre Bleue
Terre Bleue
Terre Bleue philosophy
Terre Bleue is a stylish, Belgian casual chic collection that makes women, men and kids feel good and that gives them confidence and trust in life. Modern clothing that looks and feels natural. Since 2002 Terre Bleue is linked to young, active and dynamic women that are fashionable and strive for balance, authenticity and joy of life. Men have found their way to Terre Bleue as well. Our mens collection offers a pleasing mix from stylish and adventurous, from classic to tough. It is the ultimate brand for the fashionable epicure.
Children also love Terre Bleue. The sparkling colors and nice models correspond precisely with their world, and thanks to the excellent quality they can carefree play and enjoy.Our collections are easy to combine within the different themes and with the rest of your wardrobe. You can wear Terre Bleue to any place and occasion. At work, on holiday or even to festive events; every moment is a Terre Bleue moment. Small or tall. Man or woman. With Terre Bleue you are exactly who you are. Welcome to the world of Terre Bleue!
Terre Bleue history
The Belgian label Terre Bleue was established in 2002 and is part of the company Duror/Two Faces, a flourishing family company runned by Dirk Perquy who represents the third generation. Recently his son Peter joined the company so that the tradition is assured. The roots of Terre Bleue go back to 1938. Maurice Perqui, his wife and his brother Jozef established the Perquy-Braet company. It was a wholesale in textile products; especially caps, scarves and stockings. A strong brand demands its own boutique that reflects the total image of the collection. That’s why Terre Bleue opened its first concept store in Ghent in 2004. More boutiques would follow soon. The former kids collection CF Company, that was the inspiration for the Terre Bleue womens collection, was renamed Terre Bleue in 2008.
Since the summer of 2009 the Terre Bleue universe expanded with its own men’s collection. Since then Terre Bleue has become a real family brand.The number of boutiques is growing and the gamma is always enlarging. To establish a total look, Terre Bleue launched a women and kids shoe collection in 2010 that is intensively connected with the clothing collection. With the Spring collection of 2012, the boutique in Knokke was the first to be transformed into a new shopping concept. Shortly after that, the 12th Terre Bleue boutique opened its doors in Nieuwpoort; a family store that is designed according to the new concept.In the same year the brand also celebrated its 10th birthday! Grow continues in 2013.
‘s Gravendreef 24 Nazareth 9810 Belgium
Chauncey
ChaunceyChauncey is Belgium brand, founded by knitwear designer Nathalie Bouhana, who worked for Hermès, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Ferragamo and photographer David Sdika. The brand is a mix of traditional elegance, with a touch of humour and surrealism. Using only the highest quality yarns, Chauncey prides itself on craftsmanship. All pieces are made of the softest natural yarns in Italy
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
Caroline Foulon
Caroline Foulon
Sigi
SigiThe Art of Knitting
Craftsmanship and experimentation define the culture of Sigi. We focus on creating new depths of colour and texture through the mixing of different yarns to present new and innovative designs that are instantly recognisable.
We have a deep respect and care for the knitwear we produce as well as the way in which we produce it. This is why we ensure that all of our knitwear is made in Belgium by real craftsmen and women under the best possible working conditions. These elements help define the culture we want to nurture with the Sigi brand.
Family
At SIGI we are proud of our family heritage with over 40 years of experience in the field of knitwear. Ilia Sigi Eckardt grew up in Antwerp in a very creative family where knitting was essential to the household. Being considered true experts in their field, mother Hilde Frunt and son Ilia Eckardt have been collaborating with Belgium’s best and brightest designers: Dries Van Noten, Raf Simons, Ann Demeulemeester and many more.
Made In Belgium
We do all our research, designing and development in our offices in the heart of Antwerp. Sourcing from our local pool of amazing talent is something we take great pride in. We have great faith in our local potential.
Jan-Jan van Essche
Jan-Jan van EsscheAS FOR MANY OTHERS, THE HUMAN COLLECTIVE CULTURE REMAINS AN ENDLESS INSPIRATION FOR JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE TO CREATE NEW GARMENTS, EACH NEW DESIGN A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO OPEN UP NEW PERSPECTIVES AND TO PUSH CONFLICTING DIALOGUES FORWARD.
WITH EVERY SERIES OF GARMENTS, TRADITIONAL PATTERNS FROM DIFFERENT ETHNO-CULTURAL ORIGINS ARE CAUTIOUSLY STUDIED AND SUBSEQUENTLY INTERPRETED IN THE DESIGNER’S INDIVIDUAL PATTERN LANGUAGE; ONE SPEAKING THE POETRY OF SIMPLICITY.
JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE MOSTLY OPTS TO REMOVE ALL POSSIBLE SEAMS AND MINIMALIZING DETAILS AND CULTURAL CONNOTATION, WHILE MAXIMIZING COMFORT FOR THE WEARER AND THEREFORE PROPOSING AN EXPERIENCE THAT WORKS FROM THE WITHIN.
UNLIKE CLASSIC WESTERN APPROACH TO CONFINE AND SHAPE THE BODY, JAN-JAN PROVIDES THE BODY THE LUXURY AND FREEDOM TO SHAPE THE GARMENT.
HIS SINCERE AND DISCRETE DESIGNS ARE EXECUTED IN CAREFULLY SOURCED, REFINED QUALITY FABRICS OF NATURAL FIBERS, ALL CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS INDUCING ONES AWARENESS AND STATE OF MIND.
CONTRIBUTING TO THIS STORY OF MINIMIZING ANECDOTIC CONNOTATIONS SOME FABRICS REMAIN UN-DYED OR EVEN LOOM STATE, THE COLOURS ARE RATHER TO THE MUTED PALETTE AND THE BLACK COLOUR WITH ITS ENDLESS SHADES IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO RIGOROUSLY ACCENTUATE THE SILHOUETTES.
JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE CONTINUOUSLY AIMS TO DEVELOP NEW INSIGHTS ON CONTEMPORARY YET EFFORTLESS AND GENDERLESS ELEGANCE.
HIS PIECES ARE LAYERED WITH SUBTLETY, INTEGRATED INTO MODERN-DAY CITY LIFE AND INTO PERSONAL WARDROBES, SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY PLAYING THEIR HUMBLE ROLE IN FINDING CONNECTION AND ACCEPTANCE.
THEY SEE NO BOUNDARIES, NO LIMITATIONS, NO RESTRICTIONS NO EXCLUSIONS.
THE CONVENTIONAL SILHOUETTE IS AMPLIFIED AND EACH INDIVIDUAL GARMENT LITERALLY LEAVES ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION, ENGENDERING OPENNESS.
THE WEARER OF JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE IS A GENTLE SOUL IN CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH ONE’S PERSONAL CONTEXT AS WELL AS WITH THE WORLD AS A WHOLE.
LIKE THE GARMENTS THE WEARER IS HUMBLE AND IS UNRESTRAINED.
JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE IS BORN IN ANTWERP, BELGIUM, WHERE HE HAS HIS DESIGN STUDIO. HE’S A 2003 GRADUATE OF THE ANTWERP ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.
IN JUNE 2010 JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE LAUNCHED HIS FIRST EPONYMOUS LABEL AS AN ANNUAL WARDROBE. COLLECTION#1 – ‘YUKKURI’, JAPANESE FOR ‘TAKE IT EASY’ OR ‘SLOWLY’.
THIS TITLE ALSO BECAME HIS INTRINSIC AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACH TO CONTEMPORARY WARDROBES AS A DESIGNER.
- COLLECTION#2 – SATTA AMASSAGANA (JUNE 2011)
- COLLECTION#3 – IN AWE (JUNE 2012)
- COLLECTION#4 — UHURU SASA (JUNE 2013)
- COLLECTION#5 — INITE (JUNE 2014)
- COLLECTION#6 — NO MAN IS AN ISLAND (JUNE 2015)
- COLLECTION#7 — AWARE (JUNE 2016)
- COLLECTION#8 — 無 (MU) (JUNE 2017)
- COLLECTION#9 — ONE IN ALL AND ALL IN ONE (JUNE 2018)
- COLLECTION#10 — CODA (JUNE 2019)
- COLLECTION#11 — GRACE (JULY 2020)
- COLLECTION#12 — CYCLE (JUNE 2021)
THE ANNUAL WARDROBES RECEIVED A COUNTERPART IN 2013 WHEN, DUE TO THE WELL RECEIVED PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS, THE DESIGNER DECIDED TO ADD THE PROJECTS, AUTONOMOUS SERIES OF GARMENTS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO SPECIFIC CRAFTS OR INSPIRATIONS, TAKING THE NECESSARY TIME TO CULTIVATE IDEAS AND UNDERGOING THE SLOW RHYTHM AND PACE OF THE HAND.
THE CREATIVE FREEDOM IS PRESERVED AND IDEAS ARE ENABLED TO FLOURISH.
- PROJECT#1 – PROCEED (JANUARY 2013) — RESEARCH ON PATCHWORK
- PROJECT#2 — REDEEM (JANUARY 2014) &MASH; RESEARCH ON SAKIORI WEAVING
- PROJECT#3 — WADADA (JANUARY 2015) — RESEARCH ON ROPE WEAVING
- PROJECT#4 — EACH ONE TEACH ONE (JANUARY 2016) — RESEARCH ON BORO APPLICATIONS
- PROJECT#5 — ARISE (JANUARY 2017) — PATTERN RESEARCH INSPIRED BY THE KESA GARMENT
- PROJECT#6 — ONE STONE (JANUARY 2018) — PATTERN RESEARCH INSPIRED BY THE AINU KIMONO
- PROJECT#7 — SOLACE (JANUARY 2019) — EMPHASIS ON USE OF FABRICS
- PROJECT#8 — REMEMBRANCE (JANUARY 2020) — RESEARCH ON PADDED GARMENTS & SAKIORI WEAVING
- PROJECT#9 — SUNU (FEBRUARY 2021) — RESEARCH ON PADDED GARMENTS & HAND WOVEN GARMENTS
WADADA BVBA NACHTEGAALSTRAAT 27 ANTWERPEN 2060 BELGIUM