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Lack of fashion history 'an advantage' for Belgium

12:45 15/07/2013

In the world of fashion, Belgium is a force to be reckoned with, designer Cédric Charlier told the South China Morning Post. He argues that, while Paris is considered the epicentre of fashion, The country has given fashion some of its greatest talent in the past few decades, from Martin Margiela and Dries Van Noten to Haider Ackermann and Olivier Theyskens. "Belgium is so small that when you have something creative inside you, you really create," says Charlier at his showroom in the heart of Paris' Le Marais district. "Belgians have a different mentality - we have no past, unlike the French who have haute couture. We have nothing to follow, so anything can happen," says the 34-year-old. "But there are still challenges. Since Charlier launched his eponymous label three seasons ago, he has generated so much press and praise from editors that it's only a matter of time before he joins the esteemed ranks of his well-established compatriots. In 1998, he won the Moët Hennessy Fashion Award, which caught the attention of LVMH executives. Rather than complete his education, he decided to move to Paris, where he became an accessories designer at Céline under the guidance of Michael Kors. After two years, Charlier moved to Lanvin. In 2009 he was headhunted by Cacharel until, four years later, he launched his own label. Charlier currently presents four collections a year (ready-to-wear and pre-collections) and is stocked by boutiques including Barneys in New York and Maria Luisa in Hong Kong. He plans to develop more accessories (he has collaborated with Cutler and Gross eyewear and has a small handbag line), while possibly venturing back into menswear.

Written by The Bulletin