Antwerp establishes its status as a premier fashion hub through a significant new exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the ‘Antwerp Six.’ As reported by The Guardian, this retrospective highlights how a small group of Belgian designers transformed the city into a global style capital.
The deep connection between the city and high fashion is visible even in religious spaces. In the baroque St. Andrews church, a 16th-century wooden statue of the Madonna wears a custom gown of pale gauzy fabric and white pigeon feathers, designed by Ann Demeulemeester.
This cultural integration marks a stark shift from the 19th century, when the area was known as the “parish of misery.” The transformation began in the 1980s when Dries van Noten opened his shop on Nationalestraat, effectively rebranding the district into a vibrant fashion center.
The Antwerp Six consists of graduates from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts: Dries van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dirk van Saene, and Marina Yee. They rose to international fame after showcasing their collections at the 1986 British Designer Show in London.
The group initially traveled to London in a rented van, winning over buyers with their focus on self-expression and upcycled materials. Their approach challenged the dominance of Paris, Milan, and London, injecting fresh vitality into the global industry through original and bold designs.
MoMu, the world-class fashion museum in Antwerp, is hosting this retrospective until January 17, 2027. The exhibition provides each designer with an individually curated space, featuring film projections, recorded interviews, and moving mannequins to showcase their unique artistic journeys.
A Living Legacy in Modern Antwerp
The influence of these pioneers remains visible across the city’s modern streets. On Nationalestraat, contemporary designer boutiques sit alongside vintage stores and independent labels like Arte Antwerp, which draws inspiration from graphic design and architecture.
Designer Tim van Steenbergen, a former apprentice of Dries van Noten, explains the impact of the group. “The Antwerp Six taught people how to be entrepreneurs and to just follow their inner voice,” Van Steenbergen stated, noting that they proved things could be done differently.
Van Steenbergen founded ReAntwerp three years ago with journalist Ruth Goossens to address textile waste. This sustainable fashion label provides training and employment for refugees, using deadstock materials from local designers like Van Noten and Christian Wijnants to create limited-edition clothing.
“I wanted the clothes to have as much meaning and value for the people who make them as the people who buy them,” Van Steenbergen said. He added that they have worked with refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Palestine, Brazil, and Costa Rica, using textiles as a common language.
Historical and Artistic Powerhouse
Antwerp’s wealth and identity are historically rooted in the 16th-century textile trade. As Europe’s largest river port at the time, the city traded English wool, Italian silks, and Indian diamonds, funding the elaborate guild houses found at the Grote Markt.
Beyond commerce, the city served as an artistic center for masters such as Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. Visitors can view Rubens’ massive altarpieces in the Cathedral of Our Lady or explore his Italian-style gardens, which remain open during house renovations.
The Plantin-Moretus Museum offers another glimpse into the city’s intellectual history. This former home and workshop for nine generations of printers features presses dating back to the 1600s, where the world’s first atlas and illustrated Bibles were produced.
The MAS museum in the Eilandje district continues this narrative, housing exhibits on the city’s port history. The strikingly modern building offers panoramic views of the river Scheldt and surrounding dockyards from its roof terrace.