MoMu exhibition marks 40 years since Antwerp Six's London debut, honoring fashion pioneers

MoMu in Antwerp presents an exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Antwerp Six's influential appearance on the London fashion scene in 1986. The show focuses on the period from the late 1970s to mid-1980s when Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee were developing their distinct styles after graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. While grouped together chronologically, their aesthetic approaches diverged significantly: Bikkembergs pursued hyper-masculinity, Demeulemeester blended feminine cool with masculine tailoring, and Van Beirendonck created loud clubwear. MoMu director Kaat Debo notes the paradox of their collective label, explaining they never functioned as a formal group but were friends who represented "a dream of independence and creative freedom." The exhibition highlights the collaborative ecosystem that included photographers, stylists, and graphic designers during their formative years. Walter Van Beirendonck later advised musical acts U2 and Erasure on tour costumes and led the Royal Academy's fashion department from 2007 to 2022. Co-curated by Debo and Geert Bruloot, the show pays special tribute to Marina Yee, who died in late 2025 at age 67. Bruloot worked closely with Yee before her passing to ensure her representation aligned with her wishes. The exhibition runs at MoMu in Antwerp until January 17, 2027.