Stephan Badal(43), designer from fashion metropolis Antwerp, has created fashion for 17 years now both for men and women. Besides haute couture and pret-a-porter first line, he also creates jewellery and bridal wear. On September 5th 2002 Stephan Badal opened his own couture house. Since he has built up an international clientele, he decided to do it on a central location in Europe, namely Antwerpen. There, he works and receives his clients in one of the nicest historical Louis XV manor-houses of the city.

1. How did you start designing clothes? Where were you educated?

I've always loved fashion. I studied at the department “Couture” of the Charles Montaigne Academy for fashion in Amsterdam. In order to perfect my skills in making patterns and the execution of my creations, I had a supplementary education at the Bob Molenaar Fashion school in Amsterdam. After my studies I worked for 3 years as head designer in various fashion houses in the Netherlands. In 1996 I created my first collection, that I exhibited in the most classy dutch golfclubs in the Netherlands.

Stephan's first SEXY Haute Couture collcetion, which was pretty shocking!

2. For whom are your designs made for?

My clothes are made for very feminine, chic and elegant women. I design clothes for women to make them feel beautiful and younger. The most important is the cut and for the design to emphasise the best features of a specific woman. But I also design for men, but mostly business-wear. 

Stephan's first SEXY Haute Couture collcetion, which was pretty shocking!

3. What inspires you?

The person that I design for inspires me most! When I see my client for the first time, i find the inspiration from who she is and from her appearance. And also beautiful fabrics are a great source of inspiration!

Special Hair By Sanke/ Backstage with models Joelle and Manuela

4. Where do you buy the fabrics? How do you choose them?

I buy my fabrics in Paris and Italy. I love tweed and I purchase it from the same place as Chanel does.  I also do my own prints on fabrics! Besides tweed I really love silk, leather, lace and fur. And also crocodile skin, which I have been using for 7 years now and I get it from the exotic Brazil. Hermes, Dior and Louis Vuitton all buy from leather from the same source. I choose the fabrics and materials myself and from the very first moment I see them, I already have a vision in my mind, what the design should be like.

5. If a client asks for something that is clearly not suitable for him/her and how do you explain it to them?

I try to do it delicately and explain why it will look better the way I see it. My goal is to make a person look beautiful and this is the best advertisement for me as well. If a client wants something not suitable for them in my eyes, then I will simply not do it.

The red dress was made for Pioneer to promote the Plasma TV in 2005

6. What kind of brands do you admire and like?

I love Dior, because it's very extravagant, D&G (especially the jeans!), Alexander McQueen, Victoria  Secret, Balenciaga, Ferre, Gucci etc.

Stephan Badal wedding dress

7. When is your next fashion show?

I present my fall/winter collection on the 24th of September in Antwerp and invite approximately 250 people to see the show. The show will take place in a chapel and it is a very important day for me, because I have been working on the new collection for months. For the summer I have 45 designs and for the fall I usually make 23 pieces.

Stephan's first short wedding dress

8. Have you designed for charity cause as well?

Yes!My first haute couture dress that I made for a benefit gala for children with cancer. The name of the gala was Quality of Life and it took place in Holland. The dress was sold for a good price - 27.500 Euros. This is the highest price I've sold my design. Nobody in Benelux gets higher than the price of this dress. It was really a shock for me!

Quality of Life Gala dress that was sold for 27 500 euros

Quality of Life Gala dress that was sold for 27 500 euros

9. What brings you to Marbella? How do you like it here?

I have 4 clients here and I came here to visit them. Unfortunately I spend only a couple of days here, but so far I can say nothing but positive things about this sunny city.

Stephan with his client in Marbella at the Annual Charity Gala of Spanish Association Against Cancer

10. Where are your clients from?

They are from all over the world, for example Finland, Russia, Spain, Germany, UK, USA etc. 

Stephan Badal wedding dress

11. Have you designed for some celebrities?

Actually Michelle Obama owns a jacket designed by me! But for me it's not a priority to get famous people wear my designs. I don't want to become big because of celebrities, I want to be known for my designs and what I do!

12. What are you most proud of?

That fact that I was in Holland's Telegraph newspaper and also in London's Harper's Bazaar. Also I'm very happy that such big sponsors like Moët & Chandon, and Jaguar Netherlands wanted to be linked with me. In 2000-2003, 4 fashion shows were organized in combination with the presentation of the newest cars, and this every time on a special location in the Netherlands.

Dress for LVMH Paris - especially for Champagne Brut Emperial Rose - One of Stephan's biggest campaignes! He was the FIRST person in Fashion industry who was sponsored by Moet Hennessey LVMH group in Paris. Thats way he got this big order to make and to promote the Brut Rose Champagne.

Moët & Chandon, that belongs to the LVMH-group (louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy), one of the biggest concerns of the luxury products in the world, also invited me in the private castle of the Moët family in Epernay (France), the "Château de Saran", to stay there for a weekend and to make a photo-shoot in the wine-cellars and vineyards. In the summer of 2003, I was given the opportunity to make two pink evening dresses to support the campaign of the Champagne "Brut Imperiale Rose". Now I also work with Mercedes-Benz and this is also my favourite car brand! My Haute Coutureshows are sponsord By : Baskania Juwellery & Watches Belgium, Guerlain Benelux, Sanke hairdressing Belguim,  Moët & Chandon champagne, Mercedes-Benz Belux, TH lights by Mr. Thierry Hioun and Heeren & Hillewaere Immo.. 24th september is already my 34st Haute Coutureshow in Antwerp.

Dress for Moet & Chandon

13. What are your ambitions?

My ambition is to grow my brand bigger and better and to expand to Asia and America. Also I would love if people could buy my designs in 5 star hotels for example here in Spain. As the next project I want to design handbags and also furniture sunglasses and jewellry. Michelle Moore in Belgium, one of the best furniture designer in Europe is gonna help me to designe and make the best furniture for interior (home interior), yacht decoration-furniture and also for the best hotels in the world. Furniture with the best leather quality and combination with crocodile skin, salmon fish skin etc. A decadent and very luxurious style furniture by Stephan Badal.

14. When will you be done?

When I child is born and says my name! Basically I will never be done!

Stephan Badal Haute Couture

Mechelsesteenweg no. 170

B-2018  Antwerpen

Belgium

Phone no. 0032-3227 1114

Website : www.stephanbadal.com