If you’re still buzzing by the mark the Antwerp Fashion Department left with WWWSHOWWW, you’re not alone. The entire evening was a tour de force of innovation and provided the wildly talented Class of 2020 with the world-building send-off they deserved. As you heard on the most recent episode of The Most podcast, KNOTORYUS’ own Dominique - by personal request of Antwerp Fashion Department Head Walter Van Beirendonck - lived a surreal marathon of iconic video calls and penned questions for a line-up of alumni supernovas in the run-up to WWWSHOWWW, so if you want to re-watch the entire thing you can still head to the digital platform. If, like me, you felt all the feels by proxy when a slew of living fashion legends called their wide-eyed soon-to-be colleagues during the ‘Blind Date’ section of the show, best tune into the @antwerpfashionofficial IG, where the extended clips are available for free now. If you’re a longtime follower, you also know KNOTORYUS has been recapping the graduate show soundtracks for the past decade. This year, all show music was beautifully written, played, produced & mixed by One Track Brain (Jeroen De Pessemier) - find the full show credits here. Now, despite this academic year being officially over, Walter Van Beirendonck still has much more in store for you this summer. Get your calendar app out.
SS2021: ’MIRROR’ (July 9)
(c) Walter Van Beirendonck
Always up first for a pioneering move, Walter Van Beirendonck will showing his next collection during the historic first digital Paris Fashion Week Men’s, as physical runway shows have not yet resumed officially for the moment. On Thursday July 9 at 4 PM, you’ll be able to tune into Walter’s SS21 online show titled ‘MIRROR’. The official invitation artwork was recently revealed and shows a piercing, unsettling work of art created by Spanish artist Pablo Iglesias Prada with typography by the master Paul Boudens. It’s going to be exceptional, trust.
Other not-to-miss Belgian designers joining in the digital PFW framework are Y/Project (July 9), Berluti (July 9), Dries Van Noten (July 10), and BOTTER (July 10). For once, everyone will be frontrow. Just like Karl Marx would have wanted (?)
Stocksales - with Dirk! (July 8 - 12)
Every season should be bookended by a Belgian designer stocksale and even this year, we’re getting ours. Walter Van Beirendonck and Dirk Van Saene will be sharing their sales moment once more. It truly is the most perfect opportunity to support your national faves by shopping in a more sustainable way. We’re all invited from July 8- 12 at Aalmoezenierstraat 2 in Antwerp (first floor) from 10 AM - 6 PM every day. Bring your (power)mask!
BLIND DATE
(c) Snijders & Rockoxhuis
After you’ve replenished your archive with that stocksales visit, why not reserve a spot at the ‘Blind Date’ exhibition? Hosted in several different historic locations around the city of Antwerp, this expo devoted to the history of portraiture features popping scenography designed by Walter Van Beirendonck. If you enjoy an Old Master or twenty, or would like to know what the tea with pomanders was in the 16th century, you’ll truly enjoy seeing Walter’s mind meld with the exquisite works of Rubens, Brueghel, Pourbus, Van Dyck et al. Find more info and reserve tickets here.
STILL ‘WOEST’
(c) Outsider Art Museum
There’s more Walter at the museum. The touching and inspiring exhibition ‘WOEST - Willem Van Genk’ at the Outsider Art Museum, designed by Walter, has been extended until January 3 2021. If you haven’t had the opportunity yet: listen to The Most episode 3 (see below) to hear Walter share more about the way he approached designing the universe framing the life and times of this exceptional Dutch artist.
You can find more info and tickets here, and you can order the exhibition book here.
Walter Van Beirendonck SS21
July 9 (4 PM)
https://parisfashionweek.fhcm.paris
Walter Van Beirendonck & Dirk Van Saene Designer Sale
July 8-12 (10 AM - 6 PM)
Aalmoezenierstraat 2 (first floor) Antwerp - please wear a mask
Blind Date
Until December 31 2020
Antwerp (various locations)
WOEST - Willem Van Genk
Until January 3 2021
Hermitage Amsterdam
Amstel 51
1018 DR Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Walter Van Beirendonck online
