One of the places on my ‘must-visit’ list in Antwerp was the ModeMuseum (MoMu), or Fashion Museum, home to the collections of my favorite Belgian designers and the center for some of the best–in my opinion–contemporary couture. The museum itself, much like Antwerp, was not that big, but the fashion design concepts it holds and the impact of Belgian designers (and the early, famed, Antwerp Six) in the world of fashion has been nothing short of enormous.
While we were there I was lucky enough to catch the “MoMu Now” exhibit which put on display pieces from some of Belgium’s best (Raf Simons, Anne Demeulemeester, Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, my early favorite, Olivier Theyskens & many more) grouped by theme instead of by designer. Seen this way, it was evident that the collective fashion design aesthetic really mirrored the city of Antwerp itself, from its romantic utilitarianism to its refined deconstruction and love of art & industry. It reminded me that the best of contemporary fashion is not about blindly following global trends, but also about infusing design with its relevant environment and with modern function.
*Photos by Ito
