There are windows of time when a particular group changes the tide in fashion. We saw it with the bohemian energy of the seventies, the minimalism of the nineties, and in the same decade, when a wave of new talent rose to the helms of Parisian couture houses. But one of the most intriguing are the group of graduates from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp known as the Antwerp Six. Their fascinating success, as a group and individually, spans decades—four, to be exact. This March, the MoMu Fashion Museum in Antwerp will commemorate the group’s 40-year anniversary in their upcoming exhibition, The Antwerp Six.

The dynamic group of designers includes the likes of Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dries Van Noten, Marina Yee, Walter Van Beirendonck, and Dirk Van Saene. While studying in Antwerp, the fashion program was led by Mary Prijot, who “wanted to mold the students in the elegant Parisian style of Coco Chanel,” says Geert Bruloot, Guest Curator of the exhibition. Yet, the Six were interested in more innovative takes and had their own voices to share through their designs. According to Bruloot, “the six students felt empowered to revolt against the classical approach of the educational program. This resistance helped them to each develop a strong individual style.” The all-inclusive naming was a result of showing their work at the British Designer Show in London, illustrating the value of a cohesive community and their individual talents. “They challenged each other and learned from each other. Above all, all six were highly driven, again each in their own way,” says Romy Cockx, Curator at MoMu. That revelatory show drew Antwerp into the global fashion conversation.

“A show about The Six was already on our wish list for quite some time,” says Kaat Debo, the Director of MoMu. In prepping for the exhibition, she “felt it was important to do the show with the approval and the active collaboration of the Six. It’s been a privilege to have in-depth conversations with them and to work with their archives.”

The Antwerp Six runs from March 28 through January 17, 2027 at MoMu Fashion Museum in Antwerp, Belgium.