A.F. Vandevorst
A.F. Vandevorst is the business name of two Belgian designers, who first met in 1987, at school. The fashion brand was officially founded in 1997, while the first women’s Collection of the company was presented in Paris, in March 1998, with a brand that combined his initials, A.F. for Filip Arickx, with her surname, (An) Vandevorst. In addition, with their second Collection, the two designers won the Vénus de la Mode award for future great designers.
After attending the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antwerp together, he joined the atelier of Dirk Bikkembergs and for several years she designed accessories for Dries van Noten. Their work is strongly influenced by contemporary art, especially by the works of the German artist Joseph Beuys. They designed the Ruffo Research line of leather goods. The brand also includes a line of shoes and accessories and a lingerie Collection whch they named Nightfall.
A.F. Vandevorst focus on footwear collection
In 2017, after 20 years in the fashion industry, the label’ founders and designer An Vandevorst and Filip Arickx have decided to discontinue their ready-to-wear line. The duo wished to have fewer constraints. In a press articles the designers said they wished to devote to what they love the most such as shoes and unbridled designs. Therefore, the label wanted to focus more on a wide-ranging footwear collection with a strong attention to craftsmanship and on apparel capsule collections. After a long time where the fashion house left the Parisian fashion shows, they made their appearance again in 2017 in the French capital with a show during the Haute Couture week.
2020 is the last A.F. Vandevorst collection
In 2020, the Belgian fashion label decided to discontinue and completely shut down. The collection that is available in store will be the last. In an interview with WWD the designers said that this decision is based on the change in the dynamics of the fashion world. With the uncertainties that the world is facing the duo is not able to keep the same level of creativity and storytelling. Although the brand is shutting, the designers still hope to find new opportunities in their fashion industry
You may also like:
