Changemaker
of the Year 2024
— REantwerp
Designer Tim Van Steenbergen and journalist Ruth Goossens set out to change the fashion system from within. With the support of GATAM vzw, they founded REantwerp, a fashion label that combines sustainability with a social mission. The label exclusively works with refugees, training them in their atelier for up to six months to prepare them for jobs in the Belgian fashion industry. For their collections, they use deadstock fabrics from Belgian designers, creating innovative pieces that celebrate the craftsmanship and personal stories of their team members.
— Flora Miranda
Austrian fashion designer and visual artist Flora Miranda embodies innovation. Based in Antwerp, her work explores the numerical self, questions the systems of the virtual world and captures the essence of the digital generation. Miranda develops her own software and experiments with technologies such as 3D scanning, 3D printing and laser cutting, rethinking the role of the fashion designer. Her data-driven design approach has led to groundbreaking collaborations and international exhibitions. She has received several awards for her imaginative work, including the Good Design Award and the Outstanding Artist Award.
Picture © Elsa Okazaki
— Niki de Schryver
‘As the founder of COSH!, Niki de Schryver created a platform for consumers seeking sustainable brands and stores. Over the past five years, she has expanded COSH! into an international brand that celebrates sustainable fashion in nearly thirty cities, from Barcelona to Berlin, connecting with over 800 local entrepreneurs. COSH! stands out as the only platform that benchmarks transparent and accessible supply chain data of brands, linking it to local, sustainable and urban policies. By the end of 2025, COSH! aims to be active in fifty fashion cities.
Picture © Nathalie Samain
— Morgane Gielen
To create more inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry, lifestyle and fashion photographer Morgane Gielen founded her own modeling agency, No Babes Agency. She represents models and other creatives who share her vision, giving a voice to those often marginalized by society’s ideals and beauty standards. ‘No Babes’ is also the title of her first photobook, published by Borgerhoff & Lamberigts. In addition, Gielen has shared her vision on TV shows such as ‘Alles In De Strijd’, ‘Het Perfecte Plaatje’ and ‘Iedereen Beroemd’, using the power of photography to create new ideals.
Picture © Tessa by Morgane Gielen
— Jordy Arthur
Fashion designer and content creator Jordy Arthur uses fashion as a tool to experiment and challenge gender boundaries, always infusing a touch of humor and a ‘don’t take yourself too seriously’ attitude. He aims to show the world that fashion can be done differently by upcycling, using deadstock materials and shifting the focus away from sales. By sharing his work on social media, he has built a large community of followers and has been invited to collaborate with international companies and celebrities. To make fashion education more accessible, he launched his own online fashion academy, JA-ACADEMY.