Veronique Branquinho & the Antwerp Six...or Seven?

Antwerp is a vivacious city located in the northernmost province of Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium. Graced with centuries-old buildings, museums, art galleries, cafés, pedestrian malls, and great breweries, Antwerp is commonly known for its busy harbor, which ranks second in Europe.

I lived in Belgium for a little less than a year handling some projects that the European Commission had outsourced to me. What I learned at that time is that Belgium has become a breeding ground for world-renowned designers. We have all heard of Raf Simons and Liz Claiborne!

I also discovered that Belgian designers are unalike, the sole unifying factor being their individuality—they all do their own thing. But most interestingly, I received living proof that Antwerp is a major fashion capital.

The city is home to the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts, which was founded by a painter in 1663, immediately attractiing numerous other painters from around Europe, including Vincent Van Gogh. Then after three hundred years of its founding, Fashion Design was added to the program.

It was not long until the Academy rose to international fashion fame upon the graduation of the “Antwerp Six” in 1980 and 1981. Among their ranks were Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dries van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee.

Since that generation, the Academy has not ceased producing newfound talent, such as Belgian designer Veronique Branquinho.

Born 1973 in Vilvoorde, just outside Bruxelles, Veronique graduated from the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1995, going on to debut her women’s collection only two years later.

Adding her menswear line in 2003, Veronique has been based in the nation’s fashion capital—Antwerp.

Sadly, however, Men.Style has just announced that Veronique will be closing her "namesake house. Meanwhile, she has been appointed as creative director for Delvaux.

Photo by Deeptrivia, Public Domain at Wikipedia.
Slide show from Totem Fashion, 2009 s/s collection Copyright Veronique Branquinho.