After graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the late 80s, Ann Demeulemeester became known as part of the Antwerp Six, a group of radical new designers famous for their forward-thinking style. Demeulemeester released her eponymous label in 1996 with an avant-garde menswear collection, earning immediate recognition for her unconventional, deconstructivist designs. Her streamlined silhouettes and elongated cuts call to mind a sensual, emotive aesthetic that draws influence from Gothic, punk and Japanese culture.