Since the rise of the Antwerp 6, the Belgian fashion scene hasn't been the same again. Walter, Dirk, Dirk, Marina, Dries and Ann cleared the path for numerous young talents. It seems as if a certificate of a Belgian fashion school became a key to international succes. Belgium has succesfully put itself on the 'fashion map', last season, for example, twenty Belgian fashion shows were held in Paris.
The list of designers of the next generation below is far from complete. We limited us to a selection of the designers who graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. For more information on the designers mentioned or on the ones who studied elsewhere like Raf Simons, Veronique Leroy and Jose Enrique Ona Selfa, check the website of the Flanders Fashion Institute

Martin Margiela

The most avant-garde of the Belgian designers, Margiela is adored by real fashion and art lovers the world over. Before developping his own collection, Martin worked as a design assistent for Jean-Paul Gaultier. In 1988 Maison Martin Margiela was founded in Paris. Since 1998 Margiela is also the creative Director of Women's Prêt-a-porter for Hermes. He's sometimes called number 7 of the Antwerp Six
Lieve van Gorp: starting with her leather accessories in the early 90's, Lieve soon felt the need for her own women's collection, followed two years later with a collection for men.

Anna Heylen

Anna graduated from The Academy in 1988. She gathered her first professional experience as a freelance stylist for different international fashion companies, but kept dreaming of designing her own label. In 1993 Heylen takes part in an exhibition and designs a collection of rubber dolls, all identical, faceless and androgyn, but coming alive as soon as they are dressed. These 'Anna Heylen' dolls became real collector's items. In 1996 Anna decided that the time was right to start her own collection. Since then she experiments to the full with materials as silk, fur and leather but also with horse hair and canvas.

Stephan Schneider

This German born designer graduated top of his class in 1994. only months after graduating, Schneider received several orders and set his business ip immediately. The company has grown steadily season by season and currently has 70 points of sale worldwide, his biggest market being Japan.

Wim Neels

After his graduation in 1988 Neels worked as an assistant for van Beirendonck untill 1994. In the meantime he worked on his own collection which he launched in 1992.

Kaat Tilley

Kaat designed plastic arts and painting at St-Lucas and fashion design at The Academy. In 1985 she designed her first women's wear collection called 'Mina Kristallos'. One year later she she opened a boutique and atelier in Brussels. Miss Tilley designed stage wear for music groups Zap Mama and Madredeus and designed costumes fot the French television film 'Antoine'. She has been invited to do fashion shows in a.o. Tokio, Brazil, Moscow and Las Vegas.

Veronique Branquinho

Veronique studied at the Saint-Lucas School of Arts in Brussels and at the Antwerp Academy. In October 1997 she presented her first fashion collection in a Parisian art gallery. Only one year later Branquinho won the VH1 Fashion Award for the best new designer, presented at the Madison Square Garden in New York.In the same year she also designed two collections for the Italian leather line 'Ruffo Research'. In June 2002 Veroique was part of the official Belgian delegation to promote the Belgian image in Japan, ten of her silhouettes were shown during a gala-diner in the presence of Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.

A.F.Vandevorst

A.F.Vandevorst consists out of An Vandevorst and Filip Arix. An and Filip both graduated from the Fashion Academy in 1991. During the years to follow they worked for different Belgian designers. In 1998 they took the big step: they showed their own collection in Paris. One season later the couple won the prestigious “Venus de la Mode” award. They also designed for Russo Research, the young line of the italian brand Ruffo, for one year.

Bernhard Willhelm

Before even being graduated at the Antwerp Academy, this german-born designer already worked for several famous designers like Dirk Bikkembergs, Walter van Beirendonck and Alexander McQueen. For his final-year collection at the Fashion Department he received the Flanders Fashion Institute Award. Only a few months later, in September 1998, pop star Björk ordered an outfit of his collection. In March 2000, Bernhard’s first women’s collection is presented during the Paris fashion week, six months later he ads a men’s collection. In November of the same year Björk is seen wearing his “Michael Jackson” dress at the Golden Globe Awards.

Angelo Figus

Born and raised in Sardinia, Angelo moved to Antwerp to study at the Royal Academy. In June 1999 he graduated with his men’s collection ‘quore di cane’.This small collection was presented in Paris during the Haute Couture week in July. In February 2000 he launched his first women’s collection in the ready-to-wear week in Paris. Figus is also involved in several cultural projects like the design of the costumes of the Dutch Opera.

Eric Verdonck

Eric Verdonck graduated in 1993 from the Fashion Academy. After working for several Belgian brands like Mer du Nord, he opened the french fries shop“Frituur Eric” in Antwerp. Last year (2001) he started his own men’s and women’s collection. Verdonck’s speciality is knitwear.

Bruno Pieters

This Belgian born designer graduated in 1999 from the Royal Academy. After having worked for numerous designers in Madrid and Paris, Pieters presented his first collection during the Paris' Haute Couture fashion week. This makes him the very first graduate of The Academy to design a haute couture collection. Yet since March 2002 the 26-year-old Bruno designs ready-to-wear collections.

Anke Loh

German born Anke Loh won the fashion festival of Hyères in mai 2000. in October of the same year she presented her first womens wear collection in Paris.

Anne-sophie de Campos Resend’s

Anne-Sophie began her fashion career before graduating from The Academy. During her years at school she put her studies to partice by creating and selling her first collection of knitwear at Stijl, a recognized multilable store in Belgium. After graduating she moved to Paris to work with famed designer Barbara Bui. Later Anne-Sophie moved back to Antwerp to start her own design and retail operation. Recently she created Zoé & James, a young urbanite clothing line for both men and women.

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