On 29 and 30 March 2025, Antwerp fashion museum MoMu kicks off its spring exhibition with tours, workshops, a talk on women in design, and more. ‘Fashion & Interiors. A Gendered Affair.‘ explores the relationship between fashion and interiors from a gender perspective. 

The exhibition moves from the visual mergence of the nineteenth-century woman with her interior, to creatives such as Henry van de Velde and modernist (interior) architects like Adolf Loos, Lilly Reich and Le Corbusier. 

Contemporary creations by (among others) Maison Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, Raf Simons and Hussein Chalayan on display in the exhibition, serve as a cue to reflect on the historical correlation between interior and fashion.

Interested people are invited to a richly filled opening weekend on Saturday, 29 March and Sunday, 30 March 2025. The weekend is packed with activities for all ages.

The exhibition

The exhibition explores the relationship between fashion and interiors from a gender perspective.

In nineteenth-century domestic ideology, women played an important role as ‘beautifiers’ of themselves and their homes. With an eye on comfort, the lady of the house would decorate the interior with soft cushions and textures, drapes, handiwork and all manner of knickknacks. Her body, too, was weighed down with layers of fabric and passementerie with the result that she merged with her interior, almost to the point of disappearing altogether.

This visual mergence was given substance by a number of discerning male creatives, including Henry van de Velde, who started designing women’s clothes. In their pursuit of harmony, they unified architecture, furniture, decor, clothing and accessories to create a total work of art.

Modernist (interior)architects like Adolf Loos, Lilly Reich and Le Corbusier also had their opinions about fashion, which were consistent with their vision of design. They strove for functionality and were opposed to unnecessary ornament.

Contemporary creations by (among others) Maison Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, Raf Simons and Hussein Chalayan on display in the exhibition, serve as a cue to reflect on the historical correlation between interior and fashion.

With works and loans by 20Age Archive, Akanthos, Ann Demeulemeester, bel etage Gallery, BOTTER, Charliermuseum, Craig Green, Dallas Museum of Art, Design Museum Gent, Diktats Bookstore, Dirk Van Saene, Dominique Lelys, Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Fondation Le Corbusier, Galerie Maxime Flatry, Galerie Yves, Macaux, German Textile Museum Krefeld, HoGent, Hussein Chalayan, Isolde Pringiers, J. & L. Lobmeyr, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, Kunstmuseen Krefeld, Lanvin, Leopold Museum, Maison Margiela, MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Marcus Tomlinson, Marine Serre, Max Reynders, Mudam Luxembourg, Musée royal de Mariemont, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Raf Simons Collection, Richard Malone, Serax, The Mark Wallis Collection, Musée de Chelles Alfred-Bonno, Vitra Design Museum, Vlaams Architectuurinstituut, Von Parish Kostümbibliothek, Wien Museum, …

Exhibition under the lead of

• Curator: Romy Cockx;
• Exhibition design: Altu Space;
• Graphic design: Jelle Jespers;
• Campaign image: Amber Valletta wearing a suit, photographed by Craig McDean for Interview Magazine, July 2014. Photo Craig McDean/Art+Commerce, model Amber Valletta.

Art and museums in Antwerp

• ANTWERP | ‘Panamarenko. Infinite Imagination’ exhibition until 4 May 2025 at KMSKA.
• ANTWERP | ‘Compassion’ in the MAS: the many faces of compassion.
• 2025 at the museums of Antwerp.
• 2025 at Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA): René Magritte, Marthe Donas, Panamarenko, Hans Op de Beeck.
• ANTWERP | Graphics Museum De Reede ft. Francisco Goya, Edvard Munch, Félicien Rops and Albrecht Dürer.
• ANTWERP | Rubens Experience and Rubens Garden at Rubenshuis.
• Antwerp will have a new Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp M HKA.
• ANTWERP | Innovations in the Middelheim Museum provide a completely new visitor experience.
• A visit of the Flemish Tram and Bus Museum – Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (VlaTAM) in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Discovering queer(ed) art with the Queer Tour at the KMSKA fine arts museum.
• REVIEW | Illusion Antwerpen, an active and photogenic museum.
• Antwerp museums and sports facilities team up with European Disability Card for accessible leisure activities.
• Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
• ANTWERP | Inside Rubens House.
• Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Museum Vleeshuis up for restoration.
• BOOK | ‘Antwerp. An Archaeological View on the Origin of the City’ by Tim Bellens.
• Red Star Line Museum.
• Paleis op de Meir. 
• DIVA, Antwerp Home of Diamonds.
• ANTWERP | Red Star Line Museum of (e)migration.