ANN DEMEULEMEESTER

ANN DEMEULEMEESTER (BE) at Lazzari Store

In 1985 Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester founded her own fashion label by the same name together with her photographer husband Patrick Robyn. Already at her first fashion show in Paris in 1992, she was noted for her minimalist and androgynous style, which was particularly avant-garde for the time. Ann Demeulemeester's designs are often characterised by a dark, poetic and rebellious aesthetic, realised through haute couture, fine craftsmanship and a determined deconstruction of classic and conventional garments. The choice of colours for his collections is more often than not monochromatic (white but mainly black) while that of fabrics expresses a targeted search for the finest fibres.

Ann Demeulemeester's conceptual and introspective approach runs counter to the fashion system, but it is precisely this that makes her stand out. For example, the choice of increasingly blending or juxtaposing male and female details gradually contributes to resizing gender differences in the fashion world. Freedom, individuality, androgyny become Demeulemeester's stylistic signature. What's more, her unequivocal talent for creating minimalist yet profoundly emotional clothes will make her one of the world's most influential and popular avant-garde designers. 

In 2013, Ann Demeulemeester unexpectedly relinquished the leadership of her brand, choosing to devote herself to other artistic forms. In 2014, Sebastien Meunier became the brand's new creative director, adopting a more commercial and less conceptual approach than Demeulemeester. In 2020, the brand is acquired by Antonioli Group, which continues to respect its brilliant past, propelling Ann Demeulemeester among the high-end luxury design brands.