In conversation with the designers behind the popular Belgian fashion brand Collectors Club

"Belgian design has always inspired me," says Virginia Visan. "Fashion designers like Dries Van Noten, Bruno Pieters... their vision is timeless." Drawn to the rich fashion heritage, she moved from Romania to Antwerp a few years ago. Similarly, Italian-German Maddalena Annunziata studied at the fashion academy here. Today, together with founder Nele Van Doorslaer, they are the creative minds behind Collectors Club, creating strong designs for contemporary women.

"The Collectors Club woman is contemporary and cosmopolitan. She takes action and is proactive. She loves timeless pieces but is also not afraid to take risks," says Virginia. "She also has a certain uniqueness," Virginia adds, "She is 100% Belgian. Her style looks different from that of a French, Italian, or German woman. She inspires, but she is also pragmatic. Her looks are timeless yet relevant in the zeitgeist."

“Design is always a dialogue.”
- Maddalena Annunziata & Virginia Visan

"Every collection begins with a conversation, often in the car on our way to a meeting. We ask each other what we feel is missing in life right now, and specifically in our wardrobes. What are we searching for that we can't seem to find? What are we yearning for? A good collection starts from a personal story."

Maddalena and Virginia design the CC-collections together, as a team. "Our talents are complementary. We challenge each other and bring out the best in one another. It's important to be able to challenge each other and not always agree. That's when real growth can occur," says Virginia. "The design process goes through various stages, from inspiration to sourcing and from styling to sample fitting. Each phase involves many different factors, and you have to be willing to make tough decisions. Designing is, above all, about daring to choose radically based on what you believe."

"For SS24, we were inspired by ordinary people on the street, not by influencers or Pinterest boards. We looked at the choices real women make, the colors they choose, and the silhouettes they are attracted to. Why do they choose a long coat over a short one? Which colors uplift them and which do they avoid? These unique characters became the thread running through the collection," says Maddalena. "You'll find lots of color and texture, beautiful fabrics such as a luxurious technical cotton we sourced from Japan, good denim, and a few statement pieces."

"My hero piece from the collection? Our bright yellow coated Cooper jacket," reveals Virginia. "I realize after creating this collection that this piece carries a message for every woman. It's a celebration of life, a call to joy. A reminder of the energy that clothing can convey."