{"id":8538,"date":"2026-03-26T13:38:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T13:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/8538\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T13:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T13:38:19","slug":"40-years-of-iconic-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/8538\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Years of Iconic Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1987, a group of six young Belgian designers put their stamp on fashion. Dubbed the Antwerp Six\u2014 playfully referred to as \u201cTwerps\u201d by WWD\u2014Dries Van Noten<\/a>, Dirk Bikkembergs, Walter Van Saene, Marina Yee (1958-2025), and Ann Demeulemeester capitalized on their relative anonymity in Europe\u2019s fashion conversations to become a recognized creative force. WWD famously captured their entry at the iconic Abbey Road crosswalk, the same one immortalized by The Beatles in 1969. And would continue covering the group over the years. For the Antwerp<\/a> Six, the moment marked a turning point, and now, 40 years later, their groundbreaking contributions across all fashion categories are being recognized in a unique retrospective at MoMu Fashion Museum, Antwerp, running from March 28, 2026, to Jan. 17, 2027.<\/p>\n

The timing is perfect to reflect on the group\u2019s signature contributions over the decades. Here from WWD and the Fairchild Archives is exclusive coverage from one of their earliest shows in London in 1988 to their present-day impact.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dries\"Dries
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dries Van Noten fits a model in his Antwerp, Belgium studio before his 2014 Spring 2014 menswear show in Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dries\"Dries
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Tim Jenkins\/Fairchild Archive\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dries Van Noten fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show during the London designers showcase on March 13, 1988.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dries\"Dries
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Fairchild Archive\/Giovanni Giannoni\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dries Van Noten spring 2015 show at Grand Palais, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dries\"Dries
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dries Van Noten\u2019s fall 2012 show, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dries\"Dries
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dries Van Noten\u2019s spring 2013 menswear show, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Marina\"Marina
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Tim Jenkins\/Fairchild Archive\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Marina Yee fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show during the London designers showcase on March 13, 1988.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Designer\"Designer
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Dominique Maitre\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Designer Walter Van Bierendonck on the runway<\/a> after his spring 2011 menswear show at Le Bataclan, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Walter\"Walter
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Tim Jenkins\/Fairchild Archive\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Walter Van Beirendonck fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show during the London designers showcase on March 13, 1988.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Walter\"Walter
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Walter Van Beirendonck\u2019s fall 2014 menswear show at Maison des Metallos, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Walter\"Walter
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Dominique Maitre\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Walter Van Beirendonck fall 2012 menswear, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dirk\"Dirk
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Tim Jenkins\/Fairchild Archive\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dirk Van Saene fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show during the London designers showcase on March 13, 1988.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dirk\"Dirk
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dirk Bikkembergs<\/a> fall 2015 menswear show, Milan.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Walter\"Walter
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Walter Van Beirendonck\u2019s fall 2011 menswear show at Espace Commines, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dirk\"Dirk
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Piero Cristaldi\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dirk Bikkembergs fall 2013 menswear show, Milan.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dirk\"Dirk
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Dirk Bikkembergs Sport Couture\u2019s spring 2012 menswear show, Milan.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Ann\"Ann
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ann Demeulemeester<\/a> on the runway after her spring 2011 menswear fashion show, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Ann\"Ann
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Tim Jenkins\/Fairchild Archive\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ann Demeulemeester fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show during the London designers showcase on March 13, 1988.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Ann\"Ann
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ann Demeulemeester\u2019s fall 2011 show at Couvent des Cordeliers, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Ann\"Ann
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ann Demeulemeester\u2019s spring 2011 menswear show at Couvent des Cordeliers, Paris.<\/p>\n

\tFrom the Archive: The Antwerp Six and Four Decades of Fashion\u00a0Innovation<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Ann\"Ann
\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Giovanni Giannoni\/WWD\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ann Demeulemeester\u2019s spring 2012 show at Couvent des Cordeliers, Paris.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In 1987, a group of six young Belgian designers put their stamp on fashion. Dubbed the Antwerp Six\u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8539,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[3040,19,6020,6021,6022,637],"class_list":{"0":"post-8538","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-antwerp","8":"tag-ann-demeulemeester","9":"tag-antwerp","10":"tag-dirk-bikkembergs","11":"tag-dries-van-noten","12":"tag-fashion-designer","13":"tag-runway"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/116295755790528368","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8538"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8538\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}