Walter Van Beirendonck, Spring-Summer 2002

The euphoria of the new millennium came to an abrupt end on 11 September 2001. The terrorist attacks in the US changed the course of world politics. Coincidentally, the attacks took place on the fourth day of New York Fashion Week. Of course, the financial impact of 9/11 cannot be compared to the tragic loss of thousands of lives, but still, many independent designers were forced to file for bankruptcy or look for external investors. At the same time, some 2002 Spring-Summer collections were reinterpreted by journalists and buyers as inappropriate and insensitive.

This look by Walter Van Beirendonck features the slogan 'Aesthetic Terrorists Unite'. Van Beirendonck's line at that time was called 'Aesthetic Terrorists'. Given the connotation with terrorism, customs impounded the entire collection after the attacks. Van Beirendonck had meant for his label to drop ‘metaphorical bombs on the established notions of beauty and fashion’, but he was forced to change its name after 9/11.