AF Vandervorst, the Belgian brand composed by the couple An Vandervorst (born 1968) and Filip Arickx (born 1971), view fashion as a way of communicating the inner complexities of the mind. The two designers, husband and wife, met in 1987 at the Royal Academy of Antwerp. After completing the course, Vandervorst worked as an assistant to Dries Van Noten, while Arickx, who as a teenager had worked for three years for Dirk Bikkembergs, completed military service and established himself as a freelance designer and stylist.

In 1997 they created their own label and presented the first collection in Paris for Autumn / Winter 1998, which immediately captured the attention of the press and the fashion world. Only two collections later, they were awarded as “Venus de la Mode’ Prize in the “Le Futur Grand Créateur” category, a prestigious prize for the best new revelations.

Later, the duo was invited by Ruffo Research to create the Spring / Summer and Autumn / Winter 2000 collection, an opportunity offered periodically to young designers by the famous Italian leather goods company. AF Vandervorst’s clothes convey a sloppy confidence and femininity that evokes a sexy, yet intellectual sophistication. The brand is known for often redesign and refine traditional clothing, such as riding equipment, kimonos, frock coat until they become slightly off center. The brand´s symbol is a red cross.

The couple often gives emphasis to the element of surprise at their collection´s themes, as happened in their autumn/winter 2003, when they were fascinatingly inspired by bees. Without any pre-defined palette, AF Vandervorst wanders from soft to strong tones. Recently, the brand has expanded to include footwear, accessories, and lingerie, and the couple continues to present their talent during the Paris collections shows.

By Susie Rushton, edited by Terry Jones Susie Rushton

Photo of Duc Liao