The countdown has begun. On November 18th the winners of the Belgian Fashion Awards 2025 will be revealed.
Until the award ceremony in the majestic Bourla theatre in Antwerp, it remains suspenseful who will win the coveted awards. At this year's eight edition exactly ten awards will be handed out to Belgian fashion talents and experts, including two new awards: Company of the Year and Model of the Year.
Spotlight on Belgian fashion
The Belgian Fashion Awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday evening 18th of November in the Bourla Theatre in Antwerp and is organised by Flanders District of Creativity.
The hosts on stage will be actress and TV-personality Jennifer Heylen and Belgian model/ icon, certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, media personality and artist-creator Hannelore Knuts.
Belgian-Angolan multi-disciplinary artist Martha Da'ro will provide musical arrangements and a live performance showcasing an exclusive teaser for her upcoming album. With a soft yet commanding voice, Da’ro blends bastardized R&B, hypermodern electrosoul, and contemporary blues.
Dancer, choreographer and performer Nick Coutsier will provide a sneak peek into the universe of his upcoming project 'VOLT', a 3 part multidisciplinary project mixing film, performance and fashion.
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Tickets are available via https://www.belgianfashionawards.be/tickets/
Dresscode for the evening: your best Belgian fashion
Here are the nominees
1. Designer of the Year
BERNADETTE was founded in Antwerp by mother and daughter Bernadette and Charlotte de Geyter. Their collections – ranging from ready-to-wear to home accessories – embody a refined vision of modern luxury. With a rich archive of hand-drawn prints, BERNADETTE transcends the boundaries of a traditional fashion house, cultivating a lifestyle marked by authenticity and optimism. De Geyter honed her craft at the prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. In 2025, they held their first women’s runway show in Paris and launched the Bridal Fittingroom collection.
BERNADETTE is also nominated for the Company of the Year award.
Julian klausner, born in Belgium, studied fashion at the renowned La Cambre in Brussels. Since joining Dries Van Noten in 2018, he has played key roles in shaping the brand’s creative direction. Over time, Klausner became a trusted partner to Van Noten, and following his departure, he stepped into his shoes. In Paris, he presented his first women’s collection in March 2025 and his first menswear collection in June as Creative Director.
Belgian-born Pieter Mulier studied architecture at Institut Saint-Luc in Brussels before being invited by Raf Simons to intern at his label, where he grew into senior head designer. Later, as Raf Simons’ right hand, he became Creative Director at Calvin Klein. In February 2021, Mulier was appointed Creative Director at Alaïa. In 2025, he won the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation and presented his SS25 collection at the Guggenheim Museum during New York Fashion Week. He is also known for iconic accessories such as the ‘Le Teckel’ bag and ‘Le Ballerine’ shoes.
2. Accessory Designer of the Year
Marie Artamonoff, creating jewellery and objects for Espèces, is driven by a fascination with both the living and non-living world. She reinvents classic designs while exploring new forms and scales, crafting each piece by hand in her Charleroi studio. Besides her own collections, Artamonoff creates bespoke pieces and has collaborated with Hermès over the past two years. Since 2017, she has also designed costumes and props for dance and theatre companies, working alongside various artists.
MOROBÉ, founded by Virginie Morobé, is a high-end label where each creation embodies creativity, distinction, and elegance. The brand celebrates the art of designing shoes and accessories, linking each piece to powerful femininity and modern sophistication. In 2025, MOROBÉ celebrated its 10th anniversary and opened its flagship store, The Riviera Residence, in Saint-Tropez.
Mats Rombaut, born in Ghent and now based in Paris, launched his first independent shoe project ROMBAUT in 2013. He aims to transform the fashion industry from within by creating plant-based accessories with reduced environmental impact. As Creative Director of ROMBAUT and co-founder of Virón – another independent sustainable shoe brand – he leads in sustainable fashion. In 2025, ROMBAUT celebrated its ten-year anniversary with collaborations with Puma and Iris Van Herpen.
Mats Rombaut is also nominated for the Changemaker of the Year award.
3. Emerging Talent of the Year
Abdel El Tayeb, a French-Sudanese designer educated in Paris and Brussels (La Cambre), creates clothing that bridges ready-to-wear and couture while empowering the wearer. His pieces are made in Sudan, reflecting the country’s history and identity. El Tayeb has worked as assistant designer at Isabel Marant, Balmain Shoes, and Maison Margiela Artisanal, as well as on embroidery and lace at Franck Sorbier Haute Couture and product development at Ann Demeulemeester. In November 2021, Naomi Campbell awarded him the Debut Talent prize at the Fashion Trust Arabia awards in Doha.
Julie Kegels, a Belgian designer graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, launched her eponymous label in 2024. Her debut collection at Paris Fashion Week FW24-25 explored contemporary luxury through different female archetypes. Her work bridges past and future, combining modern influences with personal memories, including accessories such as jewellery, bags, and shoes. Kegels’ romantic yet innovative approach blends traditional lace patterns with contemporary techniques.
REantwerp, founded by designer Tim Van Steenbergen and journalist Ruth Goossens with support from GATAM vzw, combines sustainability with a social mission. The label works exclusively with refugees, training them for up to six months in their Antwerp atelier for employment in the Belgian fashion industry. Using leftover fabrics from Belgian designers, REantwerp produces innovative collections highlighting craftsmanship and personal stories. In 2025, they opened a pop-up in central Antwerp and moved their studio and store to a new location.
4. Most Promising Graduate of the Year
Bert Deconick, a multidisciplinary designer with a background in fashion, fashion technology, and interior and furniture design, focuses on material research, narrative elements, and craftsmanship. He is completing his Fashion Design degree at SASK Sint-Niklaas after studies at HoGent and KASK, and has refined his skills through luxury knitwear production and styling.
Sylvain Drabbe, trained as a couturier and stylist, recently graduated from HEFF. His creations are meticulously crafted with a coherent vision and contemporary spirit, drawing inspiration from pop culture and historical references. His collection Ryuka interprets eight films into layered, surreal silhouettes.
Lionel Gallet, born in Ath, studied fashion at La Cambre after being inspired by Belgian fashion during visits to the Dansaert district in Brussels. He graduated with a master’s degree in Fashion Design in 2025.
Kilian Goderis graduated cum laude from KASK Ghent. His master’s collection Point of No Return explores material properties and visible traces of the creative process, building on technical and methodological approaches from his bachelor collections.
Elise Marechal first studied communication before turning to fashion at Helmo in Liège. Her collection Le verrou de la porte résonne pareil depuis toujours draws inspiration from intimate family spaces, blending sentimental storytelling with structural exploration.
Kristin Paquot studied Germanic languages before pursuing fashion at Château Massart. Her collection What do you do with a REVOLUTION? challenges gender norms and subcultures through tense silhouettes inspired by grunge and flapper styles.
Chloë Reners recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, exploring surrealism and the representation of women in art in her dot dot dot collection. She currently interns at Dior in Paris while collaborating with brands like KOMONO.
5. Model of the Year (new category)
Alain Gossuin was born in 1962 and grew up with a mother who worked as a stylist for Pierre Cardin. Initially, he dreamed of becoming a designer and studied at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. In the 1980s, he crossed paths with the famous Antwerp Six and quickly became a model. Noticed by couturier Claude Montana, Gossuin moved to Italy, where he soon became one of the leading male models of the 1990s. Alain appeared in campaigns for fashion houses such as Kenzo, Valentino and Cerruti. He was present at Dries Van Noten's very first show and recently opened his latest fashion show. After a career spanning 40 years, Gossuin remains a strikingly sought-after model.
Hanne Gaby Odiele came out as intersex in January 2017, drawing international attention to the topic. With over a decade-long modelling career, she is celebrated for bringing a cool, tomboyish sensitivity to the industry. She has walked for Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Dries Van Noten, starred in campaigns for Vera Wang, Balenciaga, and Mulberry, and remains one of the most influential international models in 2025, walking shows for Courrèges, Coperni, and Carolina Herrera.
Louise Robert, just 21, is one of the most sought-after Belgian models today. She became the face of Zadig&Voltaire’s fragrance Zadig and walked last year for Chanel, Zimmermann, Fendi, Ann Demeulemeester, Etro, and Erdem. She appeared on the covers of Vogue Czechoslovakia, DAZED, PUSS PUSS, and Another magazine, and in campaigns for Givenchy, Raf Simons, Bluemarine, Coperni, and Mytheresa x Courrèges, among many others.
6. Creative Professional of the Year
STIJL, a luxury multibrand store in central Brussels, was founded by Sonja Noël. For three decades, STIJL has supported emerging talent and independent creativity, selecting designers for their unique voice. Noël opened her first shop in the mid-1980s, starting with the Antwerp Six. The shop quickly became known for its specialised and carefully curated selection, as well as its focus on personalised customer service. The store also helped revitalize the vibrant Dansaert district in Brussels through projects like STIJL men, STIJL Underwear, the children’s store Kat & Muis, Belgium’s first Maison Martin Margiela store, and the eco-concept store Haleluja. In 2025, STIJL celebrated 40 years with an exhibition at the Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum.
Former Olympic champion Elodie Ouédraogo is fashion director at ELLE Belgium. Elodie combines a job in television with writing and fashion productions for the magazine. In 2016, Elodie co-founded UNRUN, a Belgian sustainable sportswear brand. Elodie has presented numerous television programmes and appeared in campaigns for brands such as Y/Project, Wouters & Hendrix and Lancôme. In 2020, she had the opportunity to curate an exhibition for the Hasselt Fashion Museum entitled “Activewear”, which reflects the importance and relevance of sportswear. In all her assignments, she consistently displays a striking fondness and passion for Belgian fashion.
Florence Teerlinck graduated as a marketer, but missed having an artistic outlet. That's why she started an internship at L'Oréal as a make-up artist. One thing led to another, and suddenly she found herself in London, where she presented herself and her work to the city's biggest agencies. Today, Florence is the first assistant to legendary make-up artist Inge Grognard and organises the shows for teams including Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Diesel and Haider Ackermann. She was head make-up artist for Meryll Rogge and Marie Adam-Leenaerdt, and her personal work has been published in magazines such as Marie Claire, L'Officiel, Vogue and iD magazine.
7. Changemaker of the Year
Masjien is an agency operating at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, and technology. When a techno-optimist joins forces with an award-winning sustainability expert, the mission is nothing less than to spark a revolution and make a tangible impact. From strategic consultancy and inspiring keynotes to hands-on project management, Jasmien Wijnants and Ann Claes inform, engage, and stimulate dialogue about the future of fashion. In 2025, they launched Josie, a unique AI chatbot answering all questions about greenwashing in fashion, and MOTOR, a digital fashion movement uniting and empowering boundary-pushing creatives. The Berlin edition of MOTOR showcased 12 creative talents as the first official digital side-event of Berlin Fashion Week. Their children’s book, Do Pants Grow on Trees?, published in 2025 to inspire the next generation to question fashion’s footprint, was reprinted in three languages.
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Mats Rombaut, a multidisciplinary creative born in Ghent and now based in Paris, launched his first independent shoe project, ROMBAUT, in 2013. His mission is to transform the fashion industry from within by creating plant-based accessories with a reduced environmental impact. As Creative Director and founder of ROMBAUT and co-founder of Virón – a second independent shoe label offering sustainable, vegan, and ethically made footwear – he is at the forefront of sustainable fashion. Additionally, he works as a creative advisor and sustainability consultant, drawing inspiration from natural and scientific processes, art, and especially music. In 2025, ROMBAUT celebrated its ten-year anniversary with collaborations with Puma and Iris Van Herpen.
Tom Van der Borght graduated in 2012 from the Municipal Academy of Fine Arts in Sint-Niklaas and soon after launched his eponymous label. Winner of the Première Vision Grand Prize and the Public Prize at the 35th International Festival of Fashion, Photography, and Fashion Accessories in Hyères in 2020, Van der Borght discovered at the age of 27 that he has a hereditary neuropathic muscle disorder, prompting him to reflect on what truly matters in life. This moment of catharsis led him to pursue fashion design and chase his childhood dreams. From 2012 to 2016, he showcased his work at Fashion Weeks in Berlin, Paris, London, and Panama. His collections have been sold across the US, Japan, and Europe. In 2025, he collaborated with David Byrne and held a solo exhibition titled Not Looking Back. He also contributed to the Osaka ’25 exhibition.
8. Company of the Year (new category)
In September 2024, Arte Antwerp opened its first international store in Paris, marked by a campaign featuring legendary footballer Nicolas Anelka. Arte Antwerp reflects a fusion of contemporary artistic expression and subcultural trends. The guiding aesthetic of founder and Creative Director Bertony Da Silva reveals a background in graphic design and an exploration of various art forms, from modern architecture to music. What began in 2009 as an experimental capsule collection of T-shirts has grown into a cultivated creative house, demonstrating its relevance by translating artistic and contemporary concepts into streetwear collections. Recently, the brand announced a collaboration with Adidas.
BERNADETTE is an Antwerp-based fashion label founded in 2019 by mother-and-daughter duo Bernadette and Charlotte de Geyter. Their collections – ranging from ready-to-wear to home accessories – embody a refined vision of modern luxury. The brand is stocked in nearly 100 stores worldwide. In 2025, they held their first women’s runway show in Paris and launched the Bridal Fittingroom, a globally available collection.
Since its founding in 1999 by Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea, Essentiel Antwerp has grown based on its core values: emotion, originality, luxury, and passion. The brand has nearly 40 monobrand stores across Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK, alongside corners in prestigious department stores such as KaDeWe in Berlin. Essentiel Antwerp is also represented in more than 750 multibrand stores and select department stores, including Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Revolve, and Anthropologie in the US. In 2024, the brand celebrated its 25th anniversary with an all-black collection – a rare departure for the typically colourful label – and the release of a coffee table book.
9. Love Brand of the Year (public choice award)
Belgian fashion brands had until the end of August to apply for this award. At this moment, everyone can vote for one of the 10 nominated brands via belgianfashionawards.be. The 10 nominees are:
CKS Fashion
Elliot & Ostrich
Figurati
Judassime
MXDVS
OSCAR The Collection
Primadonna
Pursuit Femmes
Talking Walls
Woody
10. Outstanding Achievement Award
This award honours the exceptional career of a Belgian fashion designer or professional. No nominees are shortlisted for this award category. The international BFA jury independently decides who will receive the prestigious award. The winner will be announced on 18 November during the award show in Antwerp.
ABOUT THE JURY
The final winners are appointed by an international jury of leading experts, creatives, buyers and journalists. This year’s jury was chaired by Karen Binns, the renowned stylist, creative director and consultant based in New York. Other members were Serge Carreira (Head of Emerging Brands Initiative at Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in Paris), Stéphanie d’Heygere (jewellery designer and Accessory Designer of The Year 2024), Saar Debrouwere (CEO Pucci), Eve Demoen (Curator Fashion Museum Hasselt), Elisa De Wyngaert (Curator MoMu Antwerp), Caroline Esgain (Curator Fashion & Lace Museum Brussels), Kiyo Ishizuka (international fashion agent), Bianca Luzi (CEO Raf Simons), and Philippe Pourhashemi (fashion writer, consultant & coach).
ABOUT THE BELGIAN FASHION AWARDS
Established in 2017 by the Belgian fashion organisations Flanders District of Creativity (FDC), MAD Brussels, and Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode, and lifestyle magazines Knack Weekend and Le Vif Weekend, the Belgian Fashion Awards want to showcase the unique character of Belgian fashion. They aim to celebrate both established names and emerging talents in the Belgian fashion industry.
www.belgianfashionawards.be
instagram.com/belgianfashionawards
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