Belgian Fashion Schools Show Solidarity With Terror Victims

Belgium’s famous fashion schools, the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts and Brussels’ La Cambre, have united to stand against world terror and in solidarity with the victims of the March 22nd Brussels terror attacks. The School’s upcoming graduate fashion shows have been advertised using protest posters that feature the slogan; “Stop Terrorising Our World.”

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Photo by Pierre Debusschere via WWD

The striking posters, photographed by Pierre Debusschere, feature a model wearing a transparent vest that displays a powerful message. The vest started as a poignant piece from Antwerp Six designer Walter Van Beirendonck’s Autumn 2015 campaign. The schools have appropriated this piece as a focal point for the advertising of their combined graduate shows.

Van Beirendonck is lauded as one of Belgium’s pioneering designers and as the head of the Royal Academy’s fashion department, is heavily involved in the development of these graduate shows. According to WWD, Van Beirendonck is focused primarily on unification, as well as on taking an activists stance;

“It is time that we get rid of the alleged separation between fashion in Antwerp and Brussels. Plus, obviously this is also a political message against terrorism.”

Tony Delcampe, head of La Cambre, echoed these sentiments; “While our school programs are often played off against each other, Walter and I have never personally clashed but we have also never collaborated, it is great to be united and come out with one clear message.”

Belgium’s emerging fashion community has a significant history of innovation and pioneering style and as such, graduate shows, such as these, garner considerable attention. It is obvious that Belgium’s current generation of emerging designers will be as politically aware and active, as they are talented.

Keep your eye on Belgium’s emerging fashion designers, the La Cambre’s shows will take place from June 3rd to 4th, and Antwerp Royal Academy’s take place on June 10th and 11th.

Images: waltervanbeirendonck.com
The powerful piece on Van Beirendonck’s Winter 2015 Runway, photo via waltervanbeirendonck.com