ANTWERP’s FASHION SCHOOL GRADUATES & FLEMISH BASED DESIGNERS MARC-PHILLIPE COUDEYRE, LENNY LELEU ANKE LOH, ANNE HEYLEN, IDRIZ JOSSA, PETER CEURSTERS, STEPHAN SCHNEIDER
FLANDERS HOUSE, THE NEW YORK TIMES BUILDING, NYC
Words/Images Judith Ecochard
The Flanders Fashion Institute a division of the Flanders District of Creativity (yes, they have those things in Europe…where they ‘get’ how important art is to life)…
And the stunning Flanders House hosted a packed, packed presentation of several talented designers during New York’s recent fashion week.
We wish we had more time…as the collective collections were all of very high quality…and we just got to half of what was presented.
To start…
We chatted with MARC-PHILLIPE COUDEYRE, who reached back to the King Arthur legend for his “magical and mystical” separates-all made in Belgian ateliers. Middle Ages were definitely updated a few centuries, hence, with luxe leather metallic jackets, shorts, and pants---- and bold, hand crafted jewelry pieces that were all very wearable.
Roxy Music’s AVALON also inspired…as “you don’t know the destination.” Which we took to mean that the spirit of this collection is for the adventurous urban modern women…wanting attire 'in day to night armor.'
ANKE LOH has an established international presence…and is currently a teacher in the fashion department of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Edge-y in a Euro way--- we thought the prints (created by photographs of optical fiber dresses in movement and light), sophisticated knits, complex material manipulations, and tailored details = all exceptional. The Fall 2010 Collection “reflects a new environment,” according to the PR handouts.
“---One that embodies sharp contrasts between the material language and form.”
ANNA HEYLEN’s “Women Into Men” took her inspiration from a family portrait…and each of her well-clad mannequins had a name belonging to one of the six identities.
We actually though the elegant---and very labor intensive details and designs--- were very feminine --- with “masculine strength.” Volume, folds and draping ---were all, we thought---unique.
The designer herself told us she felt this was a “joyful collection...for customers to wear to work and with the same outfit, go to a party.”
Clearly…Antwerp is a fashion destination…and yes, it’s on our list.
ADDED BONUS: We were there when the glam Diana Von Furstenberg (and cameras galore) came to review the collections…
