Christian Wijnants: Unapologetically Feminine

The Brussels-born designer first found acclaim after presenting his graduate collection in 2000, receiving both the Dries Van Noten award and the Hyéres prize. In particular, attention was drawn to the designer's use of rich, layered graphics and vivid, welcoming colours. This recognition would see Wijnants go on to work under Van Noten himself as an atelier assistant before eventually launching his namesake label in 2003.

The time spent working under Dries Van Noten seems readily apparent, with signature characteristics of his work often echoing those of the Antwerp 6-designer, only in a more elegant and refined way. This can be observed through the designers' shared penchant for colour and prints, though in combination with his approach to fabrication – especially knitwear – Wijnants manages to craft a wholly unique identity.

In statement pieces, such as the Dikra dress, bold floral prints provide a whimsical and light-hearted quality, whilst silhouettes such as the Theodor blouse, toy with proportions to evoke feelings of petiteness and daintiness in its wearer. At their core, Christian Wijnants' collections are unapologetically feminine; however, this idea of femininity is ever-evolving due to the designer's constant exploration.