Lauded Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester is leaving her fashion house, reports WWD. One of the members of the highly-influential Antwerp Six, a group of Belgian designers who gained attention for their revolutionary visions in the ’80s (including Dries Van Noten, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Walter Van Beirendonck), Demuelemeester debuted her first show in Paris in 1992, and then delved into menswear in 1996.
Demeulemeester’s dark designs have a diehard cult following, especially amongst fashion heads who lean towards the Internet-dubbed "goth ninja" aesthetic of predominantly black, drapey silhouettes that toe the line between somber formalwear and extreme subculture styles, namely black metal and punk. Demeulemeester’s own influences range from gothic, punk and Japanese cult styles, but her ability to infuse her own signature twist is what makes her clothing inimitable.
She especially has a following on the StyleZeitgeist forum, which has compiled a very thorough retrospective of her collections, and also featured her designs in an editorial shot by her husband Patrick Robyn, and modeled by close personal friend, musician PJ Harvey.
Demeuelemeester announced her resignation via a PDF of a handwritten letter, saying: "A new time is coming both for my personal life and the brand Ann Demeulemeester," and that the brand has "its own identity and legacy that is able to continue growing with out me."
The label will show its Fall/Winter 2014 collections for men and women in Paris on January 27.