The Story Behind Fashion and Flora

MoMu’s collection presentation sheds light on the history of fashion through contemporary and historical clothing, textiles and accessories. The MoMu Collection consists of over 38,000 pieces: to display as much of the collection as possible to the public, the presentation rotates on a regular basis. At present, visitors can explore how flowers continue to be a rich source of inspiration for fashion designers.

"Flowers hold a powerful allure for the designers featured in this new installation," says MoMu Curator Elisa De Wyngaert. "In the case of Dries Van Noten – an avid gardener – that comes as no surprise. For Charlotte de Geyter, the floral motifs in her designs for the label Bernadette stem from her own drawings and historical illustrations."

"But Belgian designers aren’t the only ones drawing inspiration from nature. In the silhouettes by Simone Rocha, exquisite artificial flowers are hidden beneath sheer tulle or crafted from nylon. We also showcase a wide range of floral interpretations, with a particular emphasis on pink, red and black roses. Over the centuries, the rose has become deeply entwined with mythology and religion, as well as with themes of beauty, sexuality and gender identity. What stands out is how strongly designers today are drawn to the rose as a symbol."

Floral elements are also reflected in the exhibition design. De Wyngaert explains: "We wanted to evoke a subtle field of flowers. For the carpet in this installation, we collaborated with set designer Noëmi Orgaer. The result is both romantic and mysterious. Looking ahead, we’re keen to invite more young scenographers to experiment with how our collection is presented."

Learn more about the collection presentation here