Modo Bruxellae (meaning “in Brussels fashion” in Latin) is an association created in 1994 by the Minister for the Economy of the Region of Brussels-Capital to promote all actors in the Brussels fashion sector, from the most avant-garde designers to traditional fashion houses. Its deep knowledge of this evolving sector has created a unique platform, an interesting meeting point and useful interface to discover and assist fashion designers in Brussels.

 

The association has developed www.modobruxellae.be, updated daily, where many visitors find all the latest information on Brussels fashion: news, advertisements and reports of events, addresses of designers, brands, shops, schools, modeling agencies... and of course, www.myspace.com/modobruxellae for funky updates.

  

 

Modo Bruxellae also organizes events, the most important being the Parcours de Stylistes/Stylistenparcours (Designers’ Trail) taking place every even year at the end of October. Over three days, the city centre moves to the rhythm of astonishing fashion exhibitions in boutiques and unusual locations (cafés, galleries, shops, private apartments...). At least 100 exhibits entice fashion devotees, inform fashion novices about the present and future of Brussels fashion and offer new views of the historical heart of the city.

 

Modo Bruxellae also organizes other exhibitions and fashion shows, stock sales of clothing and accessories by young designers and other projects. Every year, Modo Bruxellae awards the Modo Prize worth 7500€ to the most promising Young Fashion Designer in Brussels, thus awarding in the past Carine Lauwers, Tony and Sandrine (Tony Delcampe is now head of La Cambre Mode(s), the leading Brussels fashion school), Annemie Verbeke, Azniv Afsar, own, Olivier Theyskens, Xavier Delcour, Marina Yee, Jean-Paul Knott, Cathy Pill and Sandrina Fasoli. Future winners could be Jose Enrique Ona Selfa, who worked for Loewe but now designs his own very beautiful collection, or why not Jessie Lecomte, making elegancy her aim.

In collaboration with Brussels Export, 2008 was the first year of a new joint concept: 101% Brussels Fashion, promoting a yearly selection of 10 fashion designers in showrooms in Paris, London, Milano and other cities. The first edition with Annemie Verbeke, Cathy Pill, Christophe Coppens, Eric Beauduin, Girls from Omsk, Isabelle Lenfant, Jean-Paul Knott, Les Précieuses, Sandrina Fasoli and Sofie D’Hoore proved them right and so it happens the Brussels Government is dedicating special efforts to the fields of fashion and design, hence playing the trump cards of the Brussels Region in Belgium and abroad, as well for its economic vitality as for its market image in general. This investment in Brussels Creativity is also the forerunner of the future creation of a Design-Mode center, expected very soon in Brussels. This centre will offer the public, the designers and the professionals a reference.