Who can still believe that as far as fashion design is concerned, women are still slightly following in the footsteps of their male counterparts ?
The 1998 VH1 Fashion Awards winner for best designer, Veronique Branquinho proved that when it comes to stylistic audacity, « cut » research and original details, she is certainly not in the dark. Born in Vilvoorde, Belgium on June 6th, 1973, she concentrated her high school studies in languages before branching off to the Saint Lucas arts school in Brussels to begin painting studies. In 1991 she registered at the Royal Academy of Antwerp and majored in Fashion Design. In October 1997, longing to start her own label, Veronique Branquinho designed her first womenswear collection. Simultaneously, she designed the women's collection for the Italian house of Ruffo Research for 2 seasons (Spring/Summer 1999, Autumn/Winter 1999-2000) and participated in exhibitions all over the Belgium fashion scene (notably at Colette with Raf Simons). In January 2003, she enriched her world by adding a menswear collection. The first boutique in her name, opened in August of the same year, on 73 Nationalestraat in Antwerp.