The fashion exhibition "The Antwerp Six" pays tribute to a group of six designers who became friends at school and set out to conquer the world of fashion in a six-seater van from Belgium.
The MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp, in Belgium, will present a major retrospective of six Flemish designers known for their deconstructed, avant-garde, and even unconventional style. Some continue to inspire and influence current trends, such as Ann Demeulemeester's dark romance, while another recently passed away at the height of a distinguished career. What unites them all?
Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Van Saene, Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Marina Yee were known as the "Antwerp Six." They met at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in the 1980s. Sharing the same values and dreams, they decided one day in 1986 to rent a van for six people, allowing them to travel to London and present their collections independently during the British Designer Show. It's a story that resonates deeply, because these six designers joined forces, achieved recognition as a group, and then distinguished themselves through their unique styles.
They do not form a single entity: each cultivates their own individuality without preventing creativity and sources of inspiration from circulating.
Their approach was to rebel against the ideals of the time, based on glittery, ultra-colorful glamour. The Antwerp Six, seemingly out of nowhere, attracted all eyes as soon as they championed their avant-garde, visionary, and experimental pieces. They shared a more radical vision and rejected conventional correctness. Sometimes androgynous, then feminine, dramatic and gothic, or attentive to materials and their characteristics, the Antwerp Six honed their "anti-fashion" spirit.
Overflowing with ambition and creativity, they managed to capture attention, particularly from major buyers in New York and London department stores. They were fearless, ready to completely transform their lives. After long hours on the road, they plastered posters in the streets to announce their fashion shows. Their approach seems very artisanal and spontaneous to us today, yet it paid off. Back on the continent, they established themselves in the fashion capital, Paris, and refined their style. Another somewhat peripheral figure was associated with the group without truly being part of it: Martin Margiela. He became known to the group in the late 1980s for his enigmatic style. He contributed to the emergence of a more conceptual fashion based on a lack of identity, designs that defied flattering cuts, and the use of recycled materials.
The Solitary One' SPRING – SUMMER 2026 BTS @jorazaria
After a while, the creators felt stifled by their overly restrictive nickname. They went their separate ways, both in their career paths and their style, in order to fully assert themselves. Each leaves behind a distinctive legacy.
Dries Van Noten is known for his hybrid style, which is bohemian, experimental, and chic. He likes to fuse references, genres, and tastes to explore new sensations.
Ann Demeulemeester is one of the pioneers of the rock and dramatic style, to which she adds touches of romanticism.
Dirk Van Saene loves deconstruction and artisanal fashion without a real guiding principle. He creates trompe-l'œil pieces by breaking the codes of femininity that can seem a bit repetitive to us.
Walter Van Beirendonck draws inspiration from the energy he receives from various disciplines such as music, literature, and art. Colors clash, as do his ethnic influences, in a vision where geometric forms transcend conventions.
Dirk Bikkembergs has created a brand bearing his name that reflects his unisex and contemporary style. He offers a wardrobe with strong cuts and streetwear elements.
Marina Yee, who passed away on the 1ster Born in November 2025, she was very sensitive to art. She loved creating dialogues between art and fashion through a thoughtful, slow, and introspective approach. Her clothes didn't display a style but carried a story.
The Antwerp Six each triumphed thanks to their own unique style, however complex it may have been. The group fueled their creativity, as they all shared each other's vision. They will be remembered not only for their anti-fashion values but also for maintaining their authenticity in the face of a ruthless and challenging world. Their story will remain a powerful message of camaraderie and collaboration, transcending the superficial circumstances in which they operated.
"The Antwerp Six"
MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp,
Nationalestraat 28, Antwerp (Belgium)
