KMSKA x YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS

Forty years after the international breakthrough of the Antwerp Six, the KMSKA marks a new fashion momentum. From 4 June to 8 November 2026, young designers will engage in dialogue with the museum collection in KMSKA x YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS, showcasing their artistic creations in the museum galleries. Be inspired by a new generation of designers who build on a rich heritage while boldly expressing their own voice: critical, personal, and unmistakably contemporary.

In KMSKA x YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS, each design is a personal interpretation of a specific work of art — a contemporary take on a story, form, material, emotion, or technique. The exhibition unfolds as a journey through the museum galleries, where fashion and art meet in unexpected ways. The result is a bridge between centuries-old craftsmanship and new creative talent.

What unites these international young designers is their training at the Antwerp Fashion Academy. Their distinctive, avant-garde silhouettes come together in the KMSKA’s galleries. Fabrics, volumes, and shapes engage in dialogue with the timeless pieces of the collection, offering a fresh perspective on a rich tradition of fashion, creativity, and technical finesse.

The exhibition also highlights the exceptional position of Antwerp fashion on the international stage. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp has produced designers who dress the world and have elevated fashion to unprecedented heights. Today, alumni from the academy lead the biggest fashion houses, while a new generation stands ready to take up the torch. Mastery, cross-pollination between cultures and genres, and a distinctive individuality are what make Antwerp fashion so successful.

In dialogue with the collection, the KMSKA showcases how personal vision, technical mastery, and artistic freedom—both then and now—form the foundation of enduring craftsmanship and international appeal. KMSKA x YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS celebrates fashion as cultural heritage in the making.