A. F. Vandevorst S, S 1999 Collection

Spring, Summer 1999 collection. Belgian design duo (and husband and wife) behind A. F. Vandevorst, Filip Arickx and An Vandevorst, unveiled a show that was to become iconic, featuring models laid out and curled up on midcentury hospital beds in stark clinical white. The hospital bed and further medical symbols would become an increasingly important part of the brand s identity (their logo is even a red cross). The obsession all began during Filip s childhood he would collect unique Red Cross items he would find: I had been collecting it since I was a child pieces from the Red Cross. And then I met An when I was 18 at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and found out she also collected The duo have since used hospital themes beyond the catwalk, placing hospital beds and equipment in stores, and creating art installations with similar ideas. The haunting, fragile beauty which has been artfully crafted through the label s use of imagery is striking, bold and completely its own.