Antwerp. Belgium. What’s great about it? If Asians are traveling thousands of miles to Antwerp then there must be something attractive about Antwerp right?

Forget about fries and chocolate. If there is one thing Belgium is good at, it’s fashion.

Being the underdog for so many years, Belgian designers have established a renowned name in not only their own country but also internationally. With Antwerp being the ‘Fashion capital’, it’s no surprise that the designers opened stores in Antwerp. Each neighborhood has its distinct character. Here are a few of my favorite shops and designers:

Christian Wijnants

Two years ago, Christian Wijnants, who is well-known for his amazing knitwear, even teaching at Antwerp’s fashion academy and winning an International Woolmark Prize, opened a magnificent store in Steenhouwersvest. His iconic clothes and accessory collections always stand out because of their colourful prints and amazing design techniques. Check out his SS2018 collection and you’ll know what I mean.

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Honest By

If you believe in ethical fashion, then pop into Bruno Pieters’s shop, which is called Honest by. This label sells stylish and sustainable clothing, sharing the story of every individual garment in the collection. So you always know what you’re buying and where it came from. 100% transparency guaranteed. You can buy the collection online but the designer also recently opened his first flagship store in Antwerp.

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Morrison

Anyone who thinks knitted jumpers are old-fashioned should check out the knitwear at Morrison. Patrick and Jan Olyslager run this unique clothes store in Nationalestraat. They are also the designers of the Belgian knitwear brand Howlin’, working with qualitative and sustainably produced Shetland wool. They guarantee that every Morrison jumper was ethically produced and will last for years. In addition to Howlin’, Morrison also sells other brands such as Leathercraft, Ally Capellino and Hartford.

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Check out more of my favorite Belgian designer hotspot here