Fashionable Visualisation
of Masculinity and Sport
The Belgian designer with German roots Dirk Bikkembergs (born 1959), known as one the famous ‘Antwerp Six’ who graduated from Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the early eighties together with Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, and Marina Yee, has opened his first flagship store, or more precisely: football player house, on 26th February 2009 in the center of Milan.
Since the opening of his showroom in 1998 Dirk Bikkembergs has one foot in Milan. Eleven years later, in February 2009, over 100 football players have been running through the streets of Milan, dressed in Dirk Bikkembergs jumpsuits with one number on their back: 47, the house number of their destination: Via Manzoni 47.
Dirk Bikkembergs fashion articulates masculinity and the world of sport, especially football. On his website his approach is described with following words:
>“Sport in general, and football in particular, represent the language of a genuine and positive way of life.” These words were spoken by Dirk in 2000 and reveal the start of a new era for the Dirk Bikkembergs brand. Dirk Bikkembergs was the first fashion designer to fully understand and act upon the potential of Football, considering it the universal language par excellence of the 21st century.< http://www.bikkembergs.com
fig.: The store reflects on 1.300 m2 over 3 levels the home of the Dirk Bikkembergs sportsman. The designer presents his three lines (Dirk Bikkembergs Sport Couture, BIKKEMBERGS and Bikkembergs Sport) as well as the entire collection of F.C. Bikkembergs Fossombrone team wear, including the designer football boot ‘Tirosegno’, which is used by professional players in Europe.
Video: On 26 February 2009, Dirk Bikkembergs has opened his first flagship store in Milan. By youtube.com/user/maartenmonza.
If you don't have the chance to visit Milan in the next time, check out the designer's website; in 2007 Dirk Bikkembergs was the winner of 2 awards for the best E-commerce website www.bikkembergsfootball.com.