“I know that certain things I am doing could be shocking for certain people, but they are definitely not for me. Said Walter Van Beirendonck in an interview with SHOWstudio in 2011.
This quote encapsulates the bold, irreverent spirit of Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck, who has long used fashion as a tool to consistently challenge the status quo through bold visual language accompanied by sharp sociopolitical commentary. His Autumn/Winter 2018 menswear collection, titled Pig, is one of his most provocative and visually arresting statements to date.
Pig dives headfirst into themes of fetish culture, sexuality, and the policing of pleasure. The runway was filled with striking visuals, from pig-snouted masks and full-length unbuttonable quilted trousers to tight-fitting garments printed with sexually coded slogans.
Van Beirendonck is not one to provoke for provocation’s sake. His collections often use shock and spectacle as a means to advocate for personal freedom, tolerance, and expression. In Pig, he unapologetically places queer identity and recreational intercourse in the spotlight. Materials traditionally linked to fetishwear, like PVC and mesh, and recontextualizing them as symbols of empowerment and expression.
This collection is part of a much larger legacy. Over the decades, Van Beirendonck has used his platform to speak out against war (Stop Terrorising Our World, AW06), support queer rights (KILLER/ASTRAL TRAVEL/4 D-HI-D, SS96), and confront censorship. As a member of the influential Antwerp Six, he continues to blur the lines between fashion, art, and activism.
Featured in look 2, this 3D sweater features a “World of Sun and Moon” embroidery on the front and back. It carries a quiet yet intentional subtext. In the context of the collection, it reads almost like a poetic nod to the hidden codes and dualities of S&M.
Measurements
Length 72cm
Shoulders 52 cm
Ptp 65cm
Hem 66cm
Sleeve 68cm
