Forty years on, the Antwerp Six remain a defining force in contemporary fashion. MoMu – the Fashion Museum Antwerp – marks the milestone with its first major retrospective devoted entirely to the group, tracing how six graduates of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts turned Antwerp into an unexpected style capital. This remarkable show remains on view until 17th January.

Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee first made waves at the British Designer Show in London in 1986, each presenting a solo collection that challenged conventional fashion. The exhibition follows their individual paths while highlighting the qualities that unite them: audacity, experimentation, and a refusal to conform. It’s fabulous!

A striking black-and-white photograph of the Six in 1986 anchors the show, capturing a moment that feels iconic. Surrounding it, archival sketches, early garments, and key pieces from their careers illuminate their evolution. De Beirendonck’s theatrical flamboyance, Van Noten’s quiet sophistication (he’s opening his art space in Venice this year), and Demeulemeester’s poetic minimalism are all on display, revealing distinct voices shaped by shared origins.

More than a survey, the exhibition examines influence. It shows how six young designers redefined fashion, put a city on the international map, and continue to shape global design. They changed history forever! As MoMu director Kaat Debo notes, “The Antwerp Six helped shape recent fashion history. We are immensely proud that we can bring the work of these six iconic designers together for a unique, in-depth view of their legacy and their influence.”

Thoughtfully curated, the show balances historical context with theatricality, demonstrating why the Antwerp Six remain touchstones for contemporary designers. For anyone interested in the evolution of fashion, this show is for you.