Ann Demeulemeester was born in 1959 in Kortrijk, Belgium. She studied fashion design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and graduated in 1981. A year after she graduated, she won the prestigious Gouden Spoel prize which is awarded each year to the most promising young fashion designer. In 1986 she made her debut in London together with the other five members for the “Antwerp Six”. In 1992 she presented her first solo ladies collection in Paris, followed by her men’s collection in 1996. Ann is famous for having minimal and simple silhouettes that have no boundaries for men and women. She also often creates contrast with fabrics by using textiles such as fine leather with heavy wool. Demeulemeester treats garments as if they are alive and believes each piece will inherit the individual form of the person who wears it.