Meet our MoMu Friends

Get acquainted with two MoMu Friends. Both long-standing visitors of the museum and passionate about beauty and fashion, they share the story behind their membership and their close ties to MoMu.

ANN VERHAERT: "I was raised with a reverence for beauty, and that includes fashion. I work with young people as a community counsellor: not a day goes by when I’m not confronted with all sorts of problems, one more challenging than the other. Beauty and thus fashion, allows me to process the daily reality of my job. It has a healing effect on me. The red thread through every exhibition MoMu stages is the unparalleled level of quality the museum brings, again and again. My all-time personal favourite is without a doubt ‘Margiela, the Hermès years’. I admire Margiela for his creativity and avant-garde thinking. ‘E/MOTION. Fashion in Transition’ was again the sort of exhibition that resonated quite some time. I was struck by the way in which fashion and society go hand in hand, how fashion is actually a reflection of society.

My decision to become a MoMu Friend was an obvious one: the membership comes with many benefits and remains democratic to all. We get invited to exclusive guided tours with the curators behind the exhibitions. Come to think of it, this is how it all began: I registered for a tour of the ‘Dries Van Noten’ exhibition with some of my friends. The guide really made an impression on me that day and I’ve been a proud MoMu Friend ever since."

ARTHUR FONTEYN: "My first visit to MoMu goes all the way back to 2011. My mother took me to see the ‘Walter Van Beirendonck’ exhibition. At the time, I wasn’t as into fashion as I am today and I didn’t really pay attention, something I regret in hindsight. In 2015, my classmates and I saw ‘Footprint’ during a school trip. Something must have shifted; I haven’t missed out on a single exhibition ever since. It’s become somewhat of a tradition, and I’ve made tons of memories at MoMu over the years. My girlfriend and I share the same passion for fashion: ‘Dries Van Noten. Inspirations’ happens to be the backdrop to our first real date, the moment we really caught feelings for one other.

What sets MoMu apart – for me – is the way the museum highlights both established Belgian and upcoming international designers. For instance, Botter or Wales Bonner, two of my favourite labels, whose work I get to see up close at MoMu. I make sure to visit every exhibition several times and I still manage to feel like a child in a toy store upon every visit. I also love collecting books and never fail to pick up a copy of the catalogue on my way home. This way I really do make the most out my membership: I can visit the museum for free as often as I like and I get a discount on the book that accompanies every exhibition."

Are you passionate about fashion and MoMu? Enjoy coming to our exhibitions, lectures & workshops? Become a MoMu Friend today! Our annual membership programme offers you a range of benefits and connects you to other people who also love fashion! Learn more

All 2022 memberships remain valid through 31 December 2023.