ID Reports: Celebrating 40 years of Natan in Brussels

On a rainy day in november, I found myself in Brussels for the exhibition celebrating 40 years of Edouard Vermeulen’s Natan. Hosted in Espace Vanderborgt, you can admire some of the creations from the house’s latest collection, as well as pieces from their creative collaboration with Christophe Coppens. The exposition consisted in two beautifully curated spaces, along with a separate space where you could leaf through the accompanying book that was created in celebration of this special anniversary. In this letter I will give you the full rundown of my expo-experience!

When you enter the room, you are immediately greeted by the echos of the sound excerpts that accompany the central piece of the room, among which are quotes by Edouard Vermeulen himself. One of the excerpts is the word “minimaliste”, which just might be the perfect word to describe this expo. The room consists of three installations that revolve around the designs of Edouard Vermeulen for Natan, accessorized by the more abstract sculptural pieces of Christophe Coppens. This creative collaboration is part of the label’s constant desire for reinvention, all the while staying true to the Natan DNA. Coppens’ pieces elevate the designs to an almost avant-garde level without losing their wearability, giving them a truly unique look. One of my favorite installations of the exhibition was this incredibly chic black skirt, accompanied by a red statement necklace. The look perfectly demonstrates the synergy of this collaboration, where both elements elevate each other.

The center piece of the first floor is Mr Vermeulen’s first ever design, which was a custom creation for his mother. This gorgeous dress is the proof that the designer just might have been somewhat of a natural! It is classy, feminine and of course, minimaliste. When admiring this special piece, you are surrounded by a 360-experience, immersing you in Natan’s world. However, after admiring this historic piece, there is no more looking back. As one of the team members kindly explained, the main focus of the exhibition is the house’s present and future, which is why all the other pieces were part of their couture show from this past juli.

When you move on to the second floor, make sure to look around as even the staircase is part of the experience. The same goes for the center of the space, because even though it might be tempting to have another peak at the first floor from a higher perspective, don’t forget to look up, where even more Natan looks are displayed on mannequins. The second floor itself then features a line-up of pieces from their Paris couture show, along with more show-stopping couture gowns displayed in their own separate installation. The line-up features spectacular glittery gowns as well as more toned-down elegant dresses and coats, accessorized once again with the work of Christophe Coppens. I absolutely loved the color scheme of this part of the exhibition, which was a mix of neutrals such as black and grey on the one hand, complimented by vibrant yellows, blues and reds on the other hand.

Overall the expo is an experience I would recommend to all fashion lovers! For fans of the brand it is an amazing opportunity to experience the pieces from up close, as well as in a new context, which allows them to truly shine and highlights their artfulness. For those less familiar with Natan, it is an incredible first meeting, which will leave you craving to see more. In case you too were to find yourself in Brussels in the weeks to come: you can visit the expo until the end of December.

Talk again soon!

ID