Belgian designer Marina Yee, an original Antwerp Six member, passed away at 67. Known for her philosophy of “beauty lies in reconstruction,” she transformed discarded materials into art. Yee’s career spanned fashion, theatre, and teaching, influencing a new generation with her focus on integrity and sustainability. Belgian designer Marina Yee, one of the original members of the iconic Antwerp Six, passed away on November 1 after a long battle with cancer. She was 67.
A mind that reshaped Belgian fashion
Born in Antwerp in 1958, Yee studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, where she became part of a generation that changed the landscape of European fashion forever. Alongside creative revolutionaries like Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, and Walter Van Beirendonck, Yee helped redefine how the world saw design, as something that could be emotional, philosophical, and quietly rebellious all at once.When the Antwerp Six made their landmark debut at the British Designer Show in London in 1986, it marked a turning point for Belgian fashion. Amid the bold experimentation of her peers, Yee stood apart for her subtle yet radical approach. Her design ethos revolved around one belief “beauty lies in reconstruction.” She would take discarded garments and worn fabrics, deconstruct and rebuild them, turning imperfection into art. Every piece she touched carried a whisper of history and humanity.
Beyond the runway
By the early 1990s, Yee chose to distance herself from the fast-paced world of commercial fashion. Instead, she explored creative avenues such as theatre costume design, interior spaces, and art installations. Yet, the essence of her work never changed, everything she made came from a place of thought, emotion, and human connection.Her passion for introspection naturally led her to teaching. At KASK in Ghent and The Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague, she became a guiding light for a new generation of designers. Her students described her as “a philosopher disguised as a designer,” someone who encouraged them not only to create but to question, to ask what fashion says and, more importantly, what it means.
Return to her roots
After years away from the limelight, Yee made a graceful return in 2016 with her label M.Y. Collection. It reflected her enduring commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship, blending couture precision with the soulful art of upcycling. Initially introduced in Japan, the label was officially re-launched in 2022, with leading stockists like Dover Street Market New York and Los Angeles, Ssense, and SKP Beijing carrying her work.In 2024, she was honoured with the Jury Prize at the Belgian Fashion Awards, a fitting recognition of her lifelong dedication to authenticity and artistry.
A legacy of integrity and reflection
Marina Yee’s story was never about fame or fashion trends, it was about integrity, empathy, and purpose. For her, designing was a dialogue between the hand and the heart.The MoMu Fashion Museum Antwerp paid tribute to her as “an extraordinarily authentic voice in Belgian fashion,” whose work was “radically honest, poetic, and rooted in respect for both people and materials.”In 2026, MoMu will honour her legacy in a major exhibition dedicated to the Antwerp Six. At its heart will be Yee’s creations, a reminder that sustainability isn’t a passing fashion, but a philosophy of living.Marina Yee leaves behind not just garments, but a mindset, one that teaches us to look beyond perfection, to find beauty in what has been worn, touched, and transformed.
