Walter Van Beirendonck created crisis, wars and bacteriological disasters

The Antwerp man's masks and gloves have always haunted his collections. To protect us.

Article reserved for subscribersJournalist in the Culture department

By Julie Huon

Reading time: 3 mins

In the last century, in Paris. Walter Van Beirendonck presents his autumn-winter 1999/2000 collection, filled with frogmen in black "catsuit" jumpsuits, this material of the future, smooth and sticky to the skin: "The perfect element of the future, he explains it then, the ideal base on which to put on the clothes. It works like a temperature regulator and gives protection in all circumstances. »

The faces of the models disappear under a plastic bubble with small holes for breathing: the "sunglass-mask". "It's a filter for the light that simultaneously beautifies the face," says the Antwerp maestro. Today, we would call it a face shield, a diver's helmet in degraded plexiglass, design and futuristic behind which to breathe in peace. More simply: a mask.

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