In 2026, MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp will present the first major exhibition dedicated to the Antwerp Six. The exhibition revisits how the six designers, who rose to global prominence following the 1986 British Designer Show in London, reshaped the course of international fashion.
On this historic occasion, Antwerp-based jewellery house Wouters & Hendrix reflects on its own journey and longstanding connection with the Six.
Crossings Since 1986
Founded in 1984 by Katrin Wouters and Karen Hendrix, the brand emerged at the same pivotal moment as the Antwerp Six. In 1986, when the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp graduates traveled to London to present their work, Wouters & Hendrix also crossed the Channel to showcase their jewellery at the British Designer Show.
Over the decades that followed, their paths repeatedly intersected within Antwerp’s close-knit creative community. Wouters & Hendrix developed a close relationship with members of the Antwerp Six, frequently creating jewellery and accessories for their runway presentations.
More recently, the house continued this collaborative tradition by designing jewellery for Meryll Rogge’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, reinforcing its ongoing dialogue with a new generation of Belgian designers.
Revisiting Archives and Icons
In conjunction with the exhibition, the brand’s boutique—located within walking distance of MoMu—will present a curated selection of archival pieces originally created for the Antwerp Six, alongside its most iconic designs.
Signature creations include the Grigri bird claw, the Chapters rings, the Mussel, and the Embrace. These pieces embody the brand’s spirit: a blend of irreverent humor, a fascination with contradiction, meticulous in-house craftsmanship, and layered storytelling. The undercurrent of surrealism that first emerged in the 1980s continues to define the brand’s visual language today.
A Limited Edition in Belgian Colors
As a tribute to the shared Belgian heritage, Wouters & Hendrix will also unveil a new limited-edition piece. The mussel-shaped Cache-Clés is reinterpreted in the red, black, and yellow of the Belgian tricolor.
This exclusive edition will be available at the MoMu shop in Antwerp starting March 28, 2026.
Craftsmanship and Surprise
Founded in 1984, Wouters & Hendrix has consistently merged craftsmanship with an element of surprise, challenging the conventions of traditional jewellery-making. Each piece, handmade in the Antwerp atelier, brings together surrealist symbolism and contemporary sensibility.
In the context of the Antwerp Six exhibition, the brand’s history is not peripheral but integral. As a creative counterpart that shared the pivotal moment of 1986, Wouters & Hendrix stand as a complementary force within the broader narrative of Belgian fashion.
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