One can't exaggerate the importance and impact of these designers whose work in so many ways goes beyond fashion. So it is exciting to see a show dedicated to and celebrating their revolutionary contributions.
Fashion journalist Anna Roos van Wijngaarden beautifully describes for fashionunited.com the six designers tableaux in the exhibit:
From that perspective - the Six as the foundation of the fashion city - they also had to have a say in their parts of the exhibition. We start with Dirk Bikkembergs, who deliberately waited a year to graduate solo to focus all attention on himself. The fashion image of the hyper-erotic, powerfully built sportsman originates from him. Raf Simons was inspired by it. MoMu's selection is shown on a large screen. Bikkembergs was also the one in the group who best understood the power of publicity, according to Bruloot [Geert Bruloot was an early advocate of the group and helped launch them onto an international stage]. In the opening room, there was already a copy of his famous catalogues in which model Michel De Windt intimately embraces a pair of hiking boots.
We meet Walter Van Beirendonck in the flesh - or rather, his virtual clone, a talking face on a small screen hidden at the right height in an outfit of his own design. He is contemplating his career in dialogue with a robot from his own fantasy world, Puk Puk, surrounded by his 35 outfits that are just as 'poppy'. “They even call me the last punk,” says that Van Beirendonck.
Dirk Van Saene and Marina Yee were the most politically engaged, according to Bruloot, and logically worked on the border between fashion and art. “With Van Saene, there was always humour involved,” he says. In his designated space, five models circle on an automatic conveyor belt; he has given the audience funny faces, painted on boxes and bags. In the background, we see carefully chosen excerpts from five 'défilés', with free-spirited models in fur coats and checked blouses.
For Marina Yee, who passed away in 2025, a special tribute had to be created. The MoMu team photographically cleared out her studio, numbered everything, and rebuilt it. “She loved rubbish,” Bruloot knows. This is also evident from the copy of her workshop, full of trinkets and material tests.
Dries Van Noten is positioned among his virtuoso colleagues as the king of strong finales. For days, Bruloot worked with him to select the best images for the big screen - kill your darlings, his mentor adds. The scenography also shows how consistent his collections have been, with recurring rococo and chinoiserie prints, expensive fabrics, and strong craftsmanship.
The choice of Ann Demeulemeester to end the exhibition is deliberate; Bruloot knew it would result in something calm and strong. Her entire oeuvre, displayed on a glossy black floor, comes across as a single collection. With this, she immediately shows how much you can do with the colour black. Demeulemeester's pieces are so well-constructed that they could be worn season after season; retailers liked that. On the opposite wall hangs her favourite supermodel, 'Louise', framed in portrait form. Alongside her, the brand's style is explained: romantic, dark and androgynous.
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| Walter Van Bierendonck at The Antwerp Six Exhibition | Photo: Stany Dederen |
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| Dirk Van Saene at The Antwerp Six Exhibit | Photo: Stany Dederen |
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| Ann Demeulemeester at The Antwerp Six Exhibit | Photo: Dominique Maitre for WWD |
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| Dries Van Noten at The Antwerp Six Exhibit Photo: Dominique Maitre for WWD |
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| Marina Yee at The Antwerp Six Exhibit | Photo: Stany Dederen |
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| Dirk Bikkembergs at The Antwerp Six Exhibit | Photo: Dominique Maitre for WWD |
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| Dirk Van Saene show invitations at The Antwerp Six Exhibit | Photo: Stany Dederen |
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| Exhibit entrance at The Antwerp Six Exhibit | Photo: Stany Dederen |
If you are in or are going to be in Belgium, you might want to see this landmark exhibit!
More information and tickets at the link below:
https://www.momu.be/en/exhibitions/the-antwerp-six
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