BELGIAN FASHION SCHOOLS LA CAMBRE & ANTWERP NOW UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM

By Crash redaction

BELGIAN FASHION SCHOOLS LA CAMBRE & ANTWERP NOW UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM

« Stop terrorising our world » is the chosen statement to present the annual fashion shows poster of the rival belgian fashion schools La Cambre in Brussels and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. This is the first time that the two schools collaborate together, due to the alleged separation between Brussels and Antwerp, but for a good cause: supporting solidarity in the country after the terrorist attacks in Brussels in April this year. The slogan first appeared on Walter Van Beirendonck, head of Fashion Department in Antwerp, now-legendary tunic from his Fall-Winter 2015 collection. Shortly after the attacks in Brussels and upon the initiative of photographer Pierre Debusschere and La Cambre teacher Pierre Daras, the message became the two fashion schools’ statement against terrorism to unanimously announce their annual fashion shows of 2016. « As head of the Fashion Department, I am very connected to Antwerp. At first the request seemed a bit strange but immediately afterwards, I realised the power of such a statement should both schools send out the same message » explains Van Beirendonck. On the other hand Tony Delcampe, head of La Cambre, declares: « While our school programmes are often played off against each other, Walter and I have never personally clashed but we have also never collaborated. It is great to be unite and come out with one clear message. » Indeed, the initiative becomes the symbol of unity and solidarity in arts, making sense facing such terrible events as something that made anybody involved, and for which anybody should rise against with a positive message of peace.

www.lacambre.be

www.antwerpacademy.be

Photographer: Pierre Debusschere
Art Director: Pierre Daras
Model: Débora Fernandes Teixeira
Wearing archive piece from Walter Van Beirendonck
Makeup: Florence Samain