An Buermans
An Buermans
Info
ABOUT AN BUERMANS
An Buermans is a fashion designer based in Antwerp,
Belgium.
The focus of all An’s collections is how to
maintain a beautiful balance between wearable fashion
and the environment. Her designs last longer than just
a season, that’s why An Buermans love’s to work with
small collections, so you will buy limited and unique
design.
An Buermans’s production is 100% made in Belgium.
She works with an Antwerp based couture atelier and
her knitwear is produced in Sint Niklaas, once the mecca of knitwear in the Belgium history of fashion. Something to be very proud of.
An knows how to cut fabrics with as little residual waste as possible, she loves a challenge.
An Buermans’s style is all about natural and up-cycle fabrics, high-spirited color and unique prints. The exclusive soft fabrics are a must, even if these come in very limited capacity.
She designs own prints and works close together with a local artists-atelier that applies a screen printing technique with water-based dyes.
It’s importent to know yourself and keep your values!
#Lovewhatyoudo #Knowwhatyouwear #Whomadeyourcloth #followyourfeeling
Karel Geertsstraat 5 Antwerpen 2140 Belgium
Everdijstraat 20 ANTWERP 2000 Belgium
Anja Schwerbrock
Anja SchwerbrockInfo
Anja Schwerbrock is the owner and creative director of the Anja Schwerbrock brands, based in Antwerp.
The German-born designer grew up with classical dance and was surrounded by the world of backstage and theater and later studied tailoring at Escada, Fashion design and Pattern maker in Hamburg. Travelling and working in Japan and with a background of working experience at Comme des Garcons and Dries van Noten, in 2005 Anja Schwerbrock moved to Antwerp and started her own brand. She is presenting her collection during Paris Fashion Week.
Mother of two sons, Anja Schwerbrock showed her first baby and kids collection in 2012. Treehouse by Anja Schwerbrock shows the relationship between her Women’s and Kids collections, which share the same creative inspiration, cuts and materials. Being creative as a fashion designer, Anja Schwerbrock is on the constant search of wearable expressions filled with freedom and individuality. Inspired by the world of ballet, circus and art adapted in her own unusual, non conform way. Anja Schwerbrock’s fashion is transferring fantasy into a self-confident reality, expressing a charming magic, set in contrast to metropolitan life. Her style always emanates rough and defined underlined by her exclusive use of natural high quality materials. Anja Schwerbrock’s spontaneous, communicative and passionate nature flows into her style, rounding the lightness, pleasant wearing comfort and relaxed expression of her designs.
Anja Schwerbrock is also doing interior designs and corporate identities for various projects and a ceramic collection.
Kloosterstraat 175 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Nathalie Vleeschouwer
Nathalie VleeschouwerInfo
Nathalie Vleeschouwer offers the kind of subtle elegance to women of character who want to enjoy life actively and confidently.
The Belgian designer launched her collection in 2011, but the roots of her fashion house go back as far as 1990. Inspiration is derived from all corners of the globe and distilled by Nathalie and her team at their headquarters in Antwerp. Because the soul of the collection is inextricably bound to the designer herself, it has an authentic style and is continually evolving, just like Nathalie’s creative ideas.
Experience, craftsmanship and lasting partnerships with a handful of suppliers and workshops form the basis of every garment that bears her name. Made with love, so that you can wear it again and again, and mix & match it with different items every season. Where the creativity of this collection – released once every six months – stops, yours begins.
Who is Nathalie?
Nathalie Vleeschouwer really does exist. She is not just the designer of the collection; she is also a wife, the mother of three children and two dogs, a traveller, nature lover, city-tripper, swimmer, connoisseur, and so much more.
Nathalie actively enjoys life and the clothing she wears plays an important part in this. It gives her confidence and supports her in all her activities, making it an essential part of her life.
There may be only one Nathalie Vleeschouwer, but many women can identify with her.
Why did she create the collection?
Nathalie Vleeschouwer’s interest in fashion stems from her childhood. Her father was a purchaser for a clothing chain, and as a child she loved nothing more than to accompany him to the big clothing factories. The Antwerp Academy of fashion was a logical next step in her career, but she decided – at the age of 22 – to swap the Academy with learning from practice. This resulted in the launch of Fragile, a maternity wear collection, in 1990. In those days, making fashionable maternity clothing was unheard of. That is how Nathalie became a global pioneer in the world of maternity fashion. The collection was a great success, all the way from Antwerp to Tokyo, and many brands have since followed in Fragile’s footsteps.
Having won the Womed Award in 2010 for female entrepreneurship, Nathalie felt she was ready to embark on a new venture in addition to Fragile. To underscore the authentic style of this new collection she decided to give it her own name: Nathalie Vleeschouwer.
The first collection was presented at the international trade fair in Paris in September 2010 and was available in shops in the spring of 2011.
What does the company Natale do?
Natale stands for Nathalie, and also for the Italian word for ‘birth’.
The family business comprises two collections: Fragile & Nathalie Vleeschouwer. Both are the artistic creations of designer Nathalie Vleeschouwer. The management of Natale is in the hands of Nathalie herself and her husband, Jan.
A staff of approximately 40 work hard every day, prominently or behind the scenes, in a wide range of jobs from pattern designer to sales assistant. By outsourcing as little work as possible experience is combined, ensuring a dynamic business culture.
Who makes your favourite pieces?
Nathalie Vleeschouwer is the head designer of a creative team, and collaborates with her own pattern maker. Each design is developed in detail by our team. We strive to build relationships of trust with all our suppliers and manufacturers, in which transparency and long-term cooperation are of the essence. We regularly visit our partners on site with a view to strengthening our ties and building a genuine relationship of trust and mutual respect.
Socially responsible entrepreneurship and sustainability
Respect for people, the environment and society are key values at Natale.
By opting for quality goods at fair as a starting point, we hope to contribute to enhancing the sustainability of the fashion industry. We deliberately choose to release only two collections a year and are adverse to hypes as well as overproducing. By adhering to this long-term vision we can make honest fashion that you will enjoy for many years to come and in which both the maker and the wearer take pride.
Our collections are produced without any use of child labour, in pleasant working conditions and for honest wages by audited suppliers with whom we build up partnerships with a long-term vision.
Keeping our creative, commercial and administrative departments under one and the same roof in Antwerp ensures that Natale’s environmental impact remains limited. We make every effort to minimise our ecological footprint throughout our production chain as well. This is one of the reasons why we have been sourcing more than half of what we produce from Belgian manufacturers for over 20 years. The remaining half is primarily produced in Europe.
Step by step, we aim to integrate more ecological fabrics into the collection every season – depending on the offering – while always maintaining a correct price/quality ratio.
Kammenstraat 82 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Kammenstraat 82 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Onderbergen 17 9000 Gent Belgium
Grote Markt 62 2500 Lier Belgium
Ernest Allardstraat 8 Brussel 1000 Belgium
Driehoeksplein 8 Knokke-Heist 8300 Belgium
Dries Van Noten
Dries Van NotenInfo
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
Stephan Schneider
Stephan SchneiderReynderstraat 53 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Souâd Feriani
Souâd FerianiInfo
Souâd Feriani was born in Genk, Belgium on 30 June 1970. As a child, she fell in love with the shirts in her father’s wardrobe and never got over this love for men’s shirts.
Studying at the fashion department of the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Antwerp was an eye-opening experience.
She met her soul mates who encouraged and stimulated her to expand her horizons. She graduated in June 1994.
For a number of years she was Head Designer for various well-known Belgian fashion houses.
On 1 December 2014 her shirt collection was officially launched and hit the shops.
Her signature shirts are very comfortable and made of the finest elastic shirt materials.
You can wear them both for work or on special occasions, with the accessories making the difference.
These shirts and shirt dresses are timeless.
On August 2, 2018 the first store “Souâd Feriani – The Boutique” opened in Hasselt, Belgium.
The collection is now even larger but still with the same focus.
The shirts and shirt dresses come in a dark-blue luxurious ‘Souâd Feriani’ box.
“I simply try to confirm the beauty that is already in the woman and the man.”
“I want to share my great love for the colour blue, for shirts and for women with my customers.”
“My goal? To make women beautiful !”
Leopoldstraat 51A Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Dokter Willemsstraat 13 Hasselt 3500 Belgium
Conscious Antwerp
Conscious AntwerpInfo
Hello! Meet CONSCIOUS ANTWERP, and what we stand for.
If you love beautiful and sustainable clothing design as much as we do, you’ve come to the right place. Conscious Antwerp is a new clothing concept created and designed with an eye for both style and sustainability from start to finish. By combining the principles of ‘ethical and sustainable business’ ( which is a very interesting course at UA by the way!) with a passion for quality and design Conscious Antwerp was transformed from dream to reality.
Our mission is to deliver beautiful, high-quality and timeless items with a luxurious yet casual appearance, which you can wear with proud and without guilt!
We deliver this promise by producing locally and with a sustainable use of materials. The reason we chose this more costly manner is because we consciously want to produce fair clothing with a minimal CO2 impact. Now you know that your clothing is not only unique in design but also in value. 😉
Our vision is to become big by staying small, so we don’t do any harm.
Our mission and vision tell our values, but they also determine the external features of our clothing such as shape, color, texture and dimension. The pieces are unique in appearance due to the combination of the leftover materials and the simplicity and longevity of the designs.
‘Only great minds can afford simple style’
Rijnkaai 20 bus1 Antwerp 2000 Belgium
Info
SENNES combines Portuguese and Belgian tradition, high-sustainable Portuguese Wool & Belgian Linen, two noble, ecological fibers with opposite natural characteristics as guiding principles towards function and shape.
SENNES is globally inspired by climate change in nature and culture, therefore conceived as an annual wardrobe. A continuous developing collection where with every series of bags & garments, high quality woven fabrics, know-how and skills from ethno cultural origins are studied and subsequently interpreted in each individual pattern language.
A sustainable brand with a focus on uniquely textile crafted design. The human collective culture is our inspiration to create new collection items; each new design is a genuine attempt to open up new perspectives to intercultural dialogue.
Nele De Block
Art Director and founder Nele De Block is Belgian and studied Textile Design at ENSAV La Cambre, Brussels.
She develops her passion and technical skills for weaving at first as a textile designer for automotive.
She then becomes Art Director for BETET SKARA: (Antwerp, 1999-2007) originally created as a social integration program for political Assyrian refugees. In this weaving studio she conducts the process of woven prototyping and production for fashion designers, artists and architects such as Haider Ackermann, Christian Wynants, Bruno Pieters, Stijn Helsen, Tim Van Steenbergen, Bernhard Willhelm, Dries Van Noten and Peter Pilotto.
Simultaneous she teaches Textile Design at Saint Lucas Art School Ghent and is trend forecaster for the Textile Industry.
SENNES is setup in 2010, when Nele is introduced in Portugal as a textile designer to one of the last remaining traditional wool weavers of the Serra da Estrela region.
Since SENNES combines Portuguese and Belgian tradition, high-sustainable Portuguese Wool & Belgian Linen, two noble, ecological fibers with opposite natural characteristics as guiding principles towards function and shape.
Hofstraat 5 Antwerp 2000 Belgium
Info
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
Kloosterstraat 82 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium