Walter van Beirendonck, a prominent member of the Antwerp Six, a group of influential avant-garde fashion designers, unveiled his latest collection at Paris Men’s Fashion Week. The show, steeped in an extraterrestrial theme, served as a poignant commentary on the current global political climate, particularly the anxieties surrounding war and the then-recent inauguration of President Donald Trump. Van Beirendonck leveraged the whimsical and otherworldly to express a serious message of peace and a call to action for the creative community.
The collection was a spectacle of intergalactic imagery. Models sported elongated prosthetic fingers, reminiscent of E.T., and donned clothing emblazoned with alien motifs. Cartoon spaceships adorned collared shirts, alien faces and limbs decorated handbags, and vibrant neon colors – orange, pink, green, and indigo – dominated the runway. One model even wore a full-body orange alien costume, complete with a hooded mask. The extraterrestrial theme extended beyond mere aesthetics, serving as a vehicle for Van Beirendonck’s message of peace and unity. Patches on some of the coats declared “no war,” “we come in peace,” and “we are all aliens,” underscoring the designer’s plea for global harmony and understanding.
Beyond the alien motifs, the collection showcased a variety of other striking elements. Oversized tweed suits were paired with baseball caps, bowler hats, or silk scarves. Space suit-inspired bomber jackets, embellished with cascading studs, added a futuristic edge. Baseball hats with floor-length fringe provided a touch of the theatrical. The diverse array of styles and accessories created a dynamic and visually arresting presentation, further amplifying the designer’s message.
The show culminated in a powerful tableau. Models congregated at the center of the crescent-shaped runway, some seated on bear-shaped chairs, holding up peace signs as John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Give Peace a Chance” filled the venue. This final act solidified the show’s message of peace and served as a direct response to the prevailing sense of unease and anxiety surrounding global conflicts and political shifts. The choice of music, a timeless anthem of peace, underscored the universality of the message and its enduring relevance.
In a post-show interview with Agence France-Presse, Van Beirendonck explicitly linked his collection to the current world events. He expressed his concern about the escalating conflicts around the world and the pervasive fear within the fashion industry regarding the new political landscape. He criticized the perceived silence and inaction within the creative community, attributing it to commercial concerns and a fear of financial repercussions. He urged his fellow creatives to speak out and use their platforms to address important issues, regardless of potential economic consequences.
Van Beirendonck’s show transcended the typical fashion presentation, becoming a platform for social commentary and a call to action. By employing the fantastical imagery of outer space and aliens, he crafted a message that was both visually compelling and deeply meaningful. His use of vibrant colors, playful accessories, and bold statements created a spectacle that captured attention while simultaneously conveying a serious message about the need for peace and unity in a turbulent world. The show’s finale, with models holding peace signs and the poignant soundtrack of “Give Peace a Chance,” served as a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out and using creativity as a force for positive change. His critique of the fashion industry’s silence in the face of political upheaval further underscored his belief in the power and responsibility of artists to engage with the world around them.
