On Tuesday 18 November, the Belgian Fashion Awards 2025 were unveiled. Organised since 2017 by Flanders District of Creativity, MAD Brussels and Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode, as well as the editorial teams of Le Vif Weekend and Knack Weekend magazines, they celebrate the unique spirit of Belgian fashion and highlight both established names and emerging talents.
The Awards
Their aim is to highlight the creativity and diversity of Belgian fashion, known for being surreal, avant-garde and discreet. But it is much more than that: it also embodies creative innovation and sustainability, driven by designers with strong personalities, emerging talents and internationally recognised names.
With two new categories – Company of the Year and Model of the Year – 10 awards were presented. A selection of fashion professionals, “The BFA Industry 200”, compiled a shortlist of nominees. The final winners were then chosen from the list by an international jury of experts, creatives, buyers and journalists. The award, Brand of the Year, is chosen by the public.
The laureates are:
• Julian Klausner – Designer of the Year
• Tony Delcampe – Outstanding Achievement Award
• REantwerp – Emerging Talent of the Year
• Sonja Noël – Professional of the Year
• Mats Rombaut – Accessory Designer of the Year
• Masjien – Changemaker of the Year
• Hanne Gaby Odiele – Model of the Year
• Chloé Reners – Most Promising Graduate of the Year
• Arte Antwerp – Company of the Year
A prize is also awarded by the public via an online vote. This year, the Love Brand of the Year award went to MXDVS .
Designer of the Year – Julian Klausner
Julian Klausner, born in Belgium, studied fashion at the renowned school La Cambre Mode[s] in Brussels. Since joining Dries Van Noten in 2018, he has played crucial roles that have defined the brand’s creative direction. Over time, Klausner became a trusted partner of Dries Van Noten, and since Van Noten’s departure, Klausner has followed in his footsteps as creative director. In Paris, he presented his first women’s collection in March 2025 and his first men’s collection in June.
‘He is the right person in the right place. Taking over a fashion house is a challenge, and Klausner proves that he has the alent and legitimacy to take Dries Van Noten further.’ (from the jury report)
The other nominees in this category were Bernadette and Pieter Mulier.
Outstanding Achievement Award – Tony Delcampe
This award honours the exceptional career in our fashion sector. No nominees are listed for this category; the international jury independently decides who will receive this coveted award. The laureate this year is Tony Delcampe. Trained in textile design in Tournai and an alumnus of La Cambre Mode[s], Tony has had an impressive career since graduating in 1994. Since 1999, he is head of fashion at La Cambre Mode[s] and has trained generations of designers who now hold key positions at international fashion houses – such as Matthieu Blazy (Chanel), Julian Klausner (Dries Van Noten), Anthony Vaccarello (Saint Laurent), Nicolas Di Felice (Courrèges), Julien Dossena (Rabanne) – or who started their own label – such as Marie Adam -Leenaerdt, Marine Serre, Ester Manas, Alexandra Jacmin (Façon Jacmin), Louis Gabriel Nouchi, Olivier Theyskens etc.
‘Tony Delcampe continues to play a key role in the history of Belgian fashion.’ (from the jury report)
Emerging Talent of the Year – REantwerp
Designer Tim Van Steenbergen and journalist Ruth Goossens want to change the fashion system from within. With the support of GATAM vzw , they founded REantwerp, a fashion label that combines sustainability with a social mission. The label works exclusively with refugees and trains them in their studio for up to six months for a job in the Belgian fashion industry. For their collections, they use leftover materials from Belgian designers and create innovative pieces that highlight the craftsmanship and personal stories of their team members. The project had already won the Changemaker of the Year award in 2024 and has grown successfully.
The jury was very impressed by the ethical aspect of the project. ‘The desire for change that drives it brings hope to the fashion industry. Their idea of a collective, their way of working by sharing expertise, is admirable.’
The other nominees in this category were Abdel El Tayeb and Julie Kegels.
Professional of the Year – Sonja Noël
STIJL is a luxury multi-brand designer shop with two locations in the centre of Brussels. Over the past three decades, founder Sonja Noël has dedicated STIJL to supporting emerging talent and independent creativity, selecting designers for their unique voice. An early proponent of independent Belgian and innovative international design, Noël opened her first shop in the mid -1980s, starting with the first collections of the Antwerp Six. The shop quickly became known for its specialised and carefully curated selection, as well as its focus on personalised customer service. Over the years, this innovative and daring vision was translated into other projects, such as STIJL men, STIJL Underwear, the children’s shop Kat & Muis, the first Maison Martin Margiela shop and the eco-concept store Haleluja – all leading to the revival and development of t he vibrant Dansaert district in Brussels. Sonja Noël and Stijl are being honoured at the Fashion & Lace Museum in Brussels until 11 January 2026 with an exhibition showcasing the richness of this exceptional career.
‘Sonja Noël richly deserves this recognition. She has turned her boutique into a gallery where every designer is an artist whom she champions with passion and conviction,’ said the jury.
The other nominees in this category were Elodie Ouédraogo and Florence Teerlinck.
Accessory Designer of the Year – Mats Rombaut
Born in Ghent and now living in Paris, he launched his first independent shoe project ROMBAUT in 2013. His mission is to change the fashion industry from within by creating plant – based accessories with a reduced environmental impact. As creative director and founder of ROMBAUT and co-founder of Virón – a second independent footwear label offering environmentally friendly, sustainable, vegan and ethically responsible shoes – he is at the forefront of sustainable fashion. He also works as a creative consultant and sustainability expert, drawing inspiration from natural and scientific processes, art and music.
In 2025, the brand celebrated its 10th anniversary and collaborated with Puma and Iris Van Herpen. Mats Rombaut was also nominated for the Changemaker of the Year award.
The jury particularly appreciated ‘his strong identity, his long-standing commitment, his consistency and the longevity of his brand.’
The other nominees in this category were Marie Artamonoff and Virginie Morobé.
Changemaker of the Year – Masjien
Masjien is an agency that operates at the intersection of fashion, sustainability and technology. When a techno-optimist joins forces with an award-winning sustainability expert, the goal is nothing less than to bring about a revolution and make an impact. From strategic advice and inspiring keynotes to hands -on project management, Jasmien Wynants and Ann Claes inform, engage and stimulate dialogue about the future of fashion. In 2025, they launched Josie , a unique AI chatbot for all questions about greenwashing in fashion, and MOTOR – a digital fashion movement that unites and empowers groundbreaking creatives. Their children’s book ‘Do Pants Grow on Trees?’ that inspires the next generation to question fashion’s footprint, has already been reprinted in three languages.
The jury applauds their long-standing commitment, their willingness to take action, share knowledge and encourage the younger generation to question the ecological footprint of fashion.
The other nominees in this category were Mats Rombaut and Tom Van der Borght.
Model of the Year – Hanne Gaby Odiele
Hanne Gaby Odiele ‘s career began twenty years ago when she was discovered by chance at a rock festival in Kortrijk. She soon began modelling for major brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Dries Van Noten, and starred in campaigns for Vera Wang, Balenciaga, and Mulberry. In 2017, she revealed her intersexuality, serving as a spokesperson and advocate for the human rights of intersex people, in partnership with the interACT association. The jury commends her commitment and courage. It recognises her significant influence at the international level.
The other nominees in this category were Alain Gossuin and Louise Robert.
Most Promising Graduate – Chloë Reners
Chloë Reners graduated from the fashion department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in June. For her graduation collection ‘dot dot dot’ she explored themes such as surrealism and the representation of women in art. Her work focuses on combining conceptual ideas with wearable designs, with the aim of telling stories through form, texture and detail. She now lives in Paris, where she is doing an internship at Dior. In her work and collaborations, including projects with brands such as KOMONO, she strives to combine creativity, technical skills and innovation.
‘Her conceptual work is powerful and mature. She is not afraid to push boundaries or work with textures and materials,’ said the jury.
The other nominees in this category were: Bert Deconick, Sylvain Drabbe, Lionel Gallet, Kilian Goderis, Elise Marechal, and Kristin Paquot.
Company of the Year – Arte Antwerp
It began in 2009 with a capsule collection of T-shirts, today Arte Antwerp has grown into an internationally successful streetwear label. In September 2024, the brand opened its first store in Paris, a milestone that was accompanied by a campaign featuring legendary footballer Nicolas Anelka. The guiding aesthetic of founder and creative director Bertony Da Silva reveals a background in graphic design and an exploration of various art forms, ranging from modern architecture to music. Arte Antwerp thus reflects a fusion of contemporary artistic expressions and subcultural trends. The brand recently announced a collaboration with Adidas.
The jury wanted to highlight this successful fusion, emphasising its ability to appeal to a generation passionate about streetwear.
The other nominees in this category were BERNADETTE and Essentiel Antwerp.
Love Brand of the Year – MXDVS
Belgian brands were invited to apply for this award. Afterwards, the general public voted online and choose alternative streetwear label MXDVS as the winner. XDVS, founded in 2015, is a conscious rejection of what they see as the sterile aesthetics that dominate contemporary culture. The brand balances on the cutting edge between art and rebellion, between gothic and streetwear. At the helm is Belgian designer and creative director Max Reynders (born 1993), known for his work in graphic design, pattern design and jewellery design. Based in Antwerp, Reynders creates a vision that challenges conventions and embraces the raw, the daring and the unapologetic. In the past year, the label launched a new knitwear collection, including homewear such as blankets and cushion covers. They also organised a pop -up shop in Antwerp for their growing global community.
The jury
This year, the international jury was chaired by Karen Binns, a world-renowned stylist, artistic director and consultant from New York.
The jury also included:
Serge Carreira (head of the Emerging Brands initiative at the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode), Stephanie D’heygere (jewellery designer), Saar Debrouwere (CEO of Pucci), Eve Demoen (curator of the Hasselt Fashion Museum), Elisa De Wyngaert (curator at MoMu in Antwerp), Caroline Esgain (curator at the Fashion and Lace Museum in Brussels), Kiyo Ishizuka (international fashion agent), Bianca Luzi (CEO of Raf Simons), Philippe Pourhashemi (writer, consultant and coach in the fashion industry).
The ceremony
The Belgian Fashion Awards ceremony, for which tickets were sold to the general public for the first time, took place at the Bourla Theatre in Antwerp, with model Hannelore Knuts and actress Jennifer Heylen as hosts. Each winner received a trophy designed by Paul Boudens.