Brussels Fashion Days, the fashion event that brings everyone together

Brussels Fashion Days, the fashion event that brings everyone together By Clémence Guillerm Published on 20/10/2014 at 00:00 The glamorous yet modest collection by Anouk Fallon, from La Cambre. Photo Étienne Tordoir. As every year for the past three years, Brussels gets into the rhythm of fashion by hosting its Brussels Fashion Days. From 17 to 19 October, three days of exhibitions and runway shows highlighted the work of young designers and freshly graduated students. A look back at the talents discovered this weekend. Working with materials With the sharing of creativity as its watchword, the event unfolded in three stages within the 10,000 m² of The Egg venue, from 17 to 19 October. An opening show bringing together the ten favourites of the MAD (Mode & Design Center) from Belgian schools, the show of young designers selected by the Belgian edition of Elle magazine, and finally the show of all the schools, from La Cambre to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, via ESA Saint-Luc in Tournai. In full effervescence, the Belgian spirit confirmed its talent for working with materials, knitwear, the search for extravagant shapes and daring colour combinations. A weekend also punctuated by sewing, make-up and hair workshops, a "fashion talk" with Didier Vervaeren and Jean-Paul Lespagnard, and exhibitions of fashion photography and students' work. This range of activities had brought together more than 8,000 visitors in 2013. The fashion month in full swing Dries Van Noten, Raf Simons, Maison Martin Margiela... While Belgium no longer has anything to prove when it comes to fashion, its designers are nevertheless often required to go through Paris to become known internationally. A necessity that in no way dampens the country's enthusiasm for asserting its influence. Indeed, Brussels recently began organising a series of events encouraging exchange between designers and the general public during a "Fashion Month". From 10 October to 9 November, style enthusiasts can understand the inner workings of the trade through seminars on brand "storytelling" at the La Cambre school, discover the work of young designers at the Brussels Fashion Days, or find the creations of established brands along the Modo trail on 24, 25 and 26 October. "A good way to bring fashion back to Belgium", as designer Damien Ravn pointed out last year.