In Belgium, MoMu Honors the Antwerp Six
Art — 27.03.26
Words: Moe Wang
In 1986, the name “Antwerp Six” echoed across the fashion landscape above all else. Now, the cohort returns to the zeitgeist ahead of MoMu—Antwerp’s leading fashion museum—and its first exhibition dedicated to the seminal group in celebration of 40 impactful years.
The Antwerp Six, 1985 © Patrick Robyn
From the classroom of the fashion department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, a group of six unknown graduates made a swift journey to London in a crammed van to exhibit their collection at the British Designer Show. After a mere five editions of presentation, they found themselves holding solo shows at Paris and stocked at Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Liberty of London.
Walter Van Beirendonck, WINK WITH STARRY EYES, Spring Summer 2026 © Alex Conu
Dirk van Saene, Autumn/Winter 1991-1992 © Dirk Van Saene
Though they never intended to function as a group or a label, Ann Demeulemeester, Marina Yee, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dirk Van Saene, and Walter Van Beirendonck became collectively known as the Antwerp Six, as dubbed by the press.
Ann Demeulemeester, Spring/Summer 1984 © Patrick Robyn
The fashion climate of the 1970s and ‘80s Belgium also snapped into alignment with the designers’ international rise, as outlined in the exhibition. From the Belgian government’s five-year Textile Plan to the social unrest that defined the era—strikes, high unemployment, and the rise of HIV/AIDS—the show also highlights the background in which the Six were living and cutting their teeth in the industry.
Dirk Bikkembergs, Spring/Summer 2008 © Luc Williame
Marina Yee, Spring/Summer 1988 © Andrew MacPherson
Amid the striking archival pieces that span four decades, the exhibition also reflects fashion’s enduring hold on the public imagination—tracing how its imagery has evolved alongside it.
The MoMu Antwerp 6 exhibition will run from March 28, 2026 until January 17, 2027. Learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit online.