Dirk Bikkembergs

Dirk Bikkembergs would be the following most famous fashion designer from Belgium. Dirk Bikkembergs, the final member of the avant-garde Antwerp Six, rapidly recognized the symbiotic connection between sport and fashion. Bikkembergs began as a shoe business, drawing inspiration from military footwear, and was determined to display at Paris Fashion Week - for SS89, Bikkembergs expanded into apparel. Decades before trainers and dresses became mainstream, early designs blended sportswear with couture-level craftsmanship. Bikkembergs, who was drawn to the practicalities of fashion, drew inspiration in the clothes of sailors, bikers, and racing drivers before designing kits for Inter Milan, a role he still occupies.

Dirk Bikkembergs made his name in footwear before launching his eponymous clothing label in 1988 and, in a break from his peers, drew inspiration in his love of football rather than high fashion. His sporty, informal designs finally led to the establishment of Bikkembergs Sport in 2000, with traditional showgrounds being replaced by the likes of Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona. Bikkembergs would also acquire the Italian football club F.C. Fossombrone. Bikkembergs sold his label to the Italian business Zeis Excelsa in 2012, and in 2016, British designer Lee Wood was named creative director to push the high-end sports brand's growth.

Born: 1959
Nationality: Belgian
Brand: Bikkembergs