After graduating from the renowned La Cambre Mode(s) school in Brussels, Marie Adam-Leenaerdt began her career at Balenciaga (under the direction of Demna Gvasalia) and Givenchy, before debuting her namesake collection in Paris in 2023.
Drawing inspiration from the concept of deconstruction and reconstruction, Marie transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, and the utilitarian into the poetic: everything around her becomes a pretext for a deeper reflection on the form and function of clothing. Her is a conceptual approach that fuses aesthetics with practicality, turning garments into endless possibilities: skirts are reversible, wrap-arounds are versatile, outerwear features interchangeable linings.
A finalist for the 2024 LVMH Prize, the designer embodies the Belgian ethos: no unnecessary embellishment, no excess, but impeccable construction, thoughtful fabric research, and a vision that transcends seasons. Her pieces, offered in a pared-down palette, are designed to be worn in different ways, depending on time, place, and context.
“In fashion,” Adam-Leenaerdt says, “you have to find a balance between belonging to the fashion world and having fun with it. I like things and people who don’t take themselves too seriously. I think that’s the Belgian way.”
