Interview: Walter Van Beirendonck Invites Everyone to Step into his Head at his Retrospect Exhibition 9/13

Photo : Jean-Baptiste Mondino

We got a hold of Walter Van Beirendonck right at a monumental time in his life. Fans and fashionistas have bowed down to Walter’s genius, corky and colorful collections for decades. On September 13, 2011 the Antwerp Fashion Museum will be displaying a large retrospect exhibition of Walter’s work from 1980 – 2012 called DREAM THE WORLD AWAKE. The tickets for the retrospective  better be honored for  a week, because that is how long it will take to honor, respect and swallow the fine details of the clothing and the brilliant visual scrap-book of Walter’s life. Walter confesses that it was emotional while pulling pieces from his archives and seeing his life’s work all in one big space. That must have been massive treasure chest of joy and memories.

Walter, whom I consider friend and ‘bear’ role model played well with all of our questions but stayed a gentlemen when describing what types of kink tickles his fancy. Walter Van Beirendonck is the ultimate Accidental Bear and has a glorious beard and dynamic spirit that deserves its own love song.

by Mike Enders

Q & A with fashion bear Walter Van Beirendonck:

Accidental Bear: How was your summer? With the fashion world aside for a second, where could I find you on a fun day off?

Walter Van Beirendonck? In Antwerp, Belgium. Summer was really busy, working mainly on preparing my retrospective which will open soon, 13th of September,  in the fashion museum, MOMU-DREAM THE WORLD AWAKE. 

Fun days are days when I can visit other cities, go to the museum and galleries, browse around in bookshops, eat ice-cream with friends!

A B:  Sherbet or ice cream?

Walter: ICE-CREAM!!! With strawberries

WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK / SS2012 - GQ.COM

A B: Your clothing stirs up all sorts of reactions from people, usually joy from the amazing playfulness of colors. How would you react to any negative comments to your design? Have you actually received any negative feedback?

Star on the Rise Andrea Cammarosano; Artist, Desinger and Breath of Fresh Air- Q & A

Photo: Eric De Mildt

Artist, designer and man on the town, Andrea Cammarosano, has a lot of tricks up his sleeves. He has changed the way I see inanimate object. I see a large piece of plastic in the closet and my mind is triggered into, “How can I sculpt that into an outfit?” Andrea doesn’t just think outside of the box, but lives out side of the box. This is what gives his work its unique flare that will leave you in a puddle of amazement. I worked with Andrea and Walter Van Beirendonck last year and it is clear that he is Walter’s wing man and they will be teaming up in Paris next menswear season. I think some ones should make a cartoon strip of these two where the sky is the limit. Andrea will be residing in San Francisco over the summer. Be warned, if you bump into this talented fur ball this summer, let’s say at The Lone Star bar in south of Market, you will get a contact buzz of pure joy and a refreshing youthful love of life called Andrea Cammarosano. Cue, Cyndi Lauper’s ” Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

www.andreacammarosano.com