>Walter Van Beirendonck
Fashion Designer
Walter Van Beirendonck Is a fashion designer based in Belgium. He studied Fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, establishing his eponymous label in 1983, showing in London in 1987 as part of the ‘Antwerp Six’. Between I993 and 1999 Van Beirendonck was also designer of W.&L.T. (Wild and Lethal Trash). He currently designs a children’s collection ZULUPAPUWA for JBC and is artistic director for Scapa Sports.
Since his early collections, Van Beirendonck has been inspired by art, music and literature, mixed with ethnic and natural influences. His influential designs are notable for their strong graphics, innovative cuts and unexpected colour combinations, along with a sense of humour. His use of prints and slogans is intended to make statements – both playful and serious - regarding fashion, nature and contemporary life and society. He is a strong advocate of ‘Safe Sex’, consistently using red thread in his collections to express this message.
Alongside his commercial designs, Van Beirendonck works on projects for theatre, ballet and film amongst others, designing the costumes for U2’s 1997 ‘Popmart’ tour. Due to Van Beirendonck’s interest in cyber technology, W.&L.T. was the first fashion label to launch a full CD-rom and Website, showing alongside the collections. In 1998 he opened 'Walter', a multi-label store including the 'Window' gallery space, of which he is co-curator. Van Beirendonck has taught in the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Arts Antwerp since 1985.
In 1998, Uitgevers published ‘Mutilate,’ a book of Van Beirendonck’s first ten years of design.
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POLITICAL FASHION
(14 May 2008)Believing fashion to be intrinsically political, Nick Knight is staging a multi-level film project, encouraging creatives to use the medium...