Antwerp

Shopping

About Antwerp Shopping

Antwerp has become synonymous with fashion, not just in Belgium, but in Europe as a whole. Thanks to the "Antwerp Six" – six designers who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s and went on to make a big splash internationally – Antwerp's yearly design shows have become a local mainstay. Consequently, Antwerp is a shopping destination for fashion-conscious Belgians. Even residents of Brussels travel here to buy the hippest vintage clothes or newest designer fashions. Naughty 1 and Fish & Chips are popular for retro and club fashions, while Anna Heylen and Ann Demeulemeester specialize in modern elegance. Antwerp's other big commodity is diamonds. More than 80% of the world's uncut stones pass through the city at one time or another. Absent any middleman, Antwerp's workshops sell loose stones and handcrafted jewelry at rock-bottom prices. Especially prized is a local innovation – the "Antwerp cut" – which is said to give diamonds added sparkle and radiance. Among the city's hundreds of jewelry stores and workshops is Diamondland, the area's largest establishment and the site of many great deals. -- Kelly Boland, Contributing Writer