June is the January of fashion as far as we’re concerned, because every year we get to savour the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp Fashion Department graduation show. It’s a cultural reset, time and time again. An international pilgrimage of inspiration formed by over 4,000 industry pros & avantgarde fashion enthusiasts. As the news is rife with event cancellations due to COVID-19, naturally this year’s show could not take place in it’s (never) traditional form. The Academy had already immediately pivoted to online classes and mentoring, now the 2020 Bachelor and Master students will be provided the platform to shine (and end an era): get ready for ‘WWWSHOWWW’.
But what is ‘WWWSHOWWW’? Expect a ‘digital platform filled with suprises’, as conjured up by the fashion department’s dedicated, searingly talented staff and the Academy’s network of close creative associates, including KNOTORYUS.
As shared by Walter Van Beirendonck, head of the Fashion Department: "During these extreme times, it is crucial to self-reflect, but we find it equally important to look towards the future with hope and perseverance. Some fashion schools have decided to postphone their graduation efforts - which I completely understand - but my team and I wanted to explore fresh avenues to bookend our students' hard work, but also our school year, in a celebratory way. I am excited and proud to announce our dynamic digital platform WWWSHOWWW."
This is such an important moment and it’s a blessing we get to experience it nonetheless this year. Before you start gathering your digital frontrow lewks, allow us to sage your day with a few graduation collection throwbacks versus current creations from some of the of the Academy’s most gifted alumni.
Demna Gvasalia: SHOW2006 (left) - Balenciaga AW20-21 (right) | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Vogue Runway
Rushemy Botter: SHOW2017 (left) - Nina Ricci (with Lisi Herrebrugh) AW20 (right) | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Vogue Runway
Raphaële Lenseigne: SHOW2017 (left) - Adult Antwerp 2020 (right) | The Most guest episode 8 | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Adult Antwerp
Minju Kim: SHOW2013 (left) - AW20-21 (right) | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Minju Kim
Sander Bos: SHOW2017 (left) - Miss Bos by Sander Bos 2020 (right) | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Sander Bos
Walter Van Beirendonck: graduation collection 1980 (left) - AW20-21 (right) | The Most guest episode 3 | (c) Mieke Smeyers & Vogue Runway
Leonneke Derksen: SHOW2011 (left) - LĒO 2020 (right) | (c) Etienne Tordoir & Stig De Block
Gennaro Genni Velotti: SHOW2018 (left) - Esse Gi Esse 2020 (with Stephanie Saris) (right) | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Jorre Janssens for Glamcult
Hyein Seo: SHOW2014 (left) - Hyein Seo AW20-21 (right) | (c) Antwerp Fashion Department & Hyein Seo
Glenn Martens: SHOW2008 (left) - Y/Project AW20-21 (right) | The Most guest episode 13 | (c) Etienne Tordoir & Vogue Runway
Further details about WWWSHOWWW and its online schedule/guest selection will be shared at the end of May. Watch this space right here.
WWWSHOWWW graphic design by Paul Boudens.
