Maggy Baum (born 22 August 1931) was a Belgian designer, knitwear- and textiles specialist, whose knitwear collection was sold internationally in the 70s and 80s, leading her to be recognized as a pioneer in Belgian fashion.[1] She also taught at La Cambre, the fashion school in Brussels, and published a textiles encyclopedia.

Biography and career

Baum was born on 22 August 1931 in Verviers, a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège known for its historic textile industry until the first half of the 20th century.[2] Baum is retired and lives in Brussels.

Design and consulting

Baum started her career at the end of the 1950s, when she bought a knitwear production atelier in Brussels. At the time, the Belgian fashion industry consisted of small, family-owned businesses specialized in practical garments. For a woman to launch her own brand and atelier was an exception.[1] Her technical knowhow landed her various consulting positions. She worked with international fashion brands, such as Woolmark and designing for smaller confectionary labels such as Edel, Tat’s, Faber en Mantex.[3] [4]

Baum also produced a small line of knitwear ensembles. By 1978, her “casual jersey fashion” was sold in Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, New York and Japan.[5] On being a woman in fashion, Maggy said: “What is important is that no one imposes a style on women anymore, they’re free to choose what they wear and how they wear it.”[3]

Baum has been credited with inventing “demnit”, a procedure that makes it possible to knit with denim-threads.[5]

Teaching and writing

At a later stage in her career, Baum became a teacher at Brussels fashion school La Cambre, where she taught Paris-based designer Olivier Theyskens and current head of the fashion school Tony Delcampe, amongst many others.

In 2008, Baum co-wrote Passepoil, Piqûres et Paillettes together with colour- and fibre specialist Chantal Boyeldieu-Duyck.[6] The publication is an encyclopedic dictionary defining over 8.000 terms from the textile industry. It took seven years to write.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Goyvaerts, Agnes (2015). The Belgians An Unexpected Fashion Story. Belgium: Lannoo. p. 43. ISBN 9789401428323.
  2. ↑ "How 200 years of industry shaped Belgium's identity". The Brussels Times. 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  3. 1 2 Barder, Liz (6 October 1978). "Designer Maggy Baum Putting Belgium on the Fashion Map". The Bulletin.
  4. ↑ "Achter de schermen van de Belgische Mode". Gazet Van Antwerpen. 28 September 1978.
  5. 1 2 Goyvaerts, Agnes (1989). Mode in de Lage Landen. Cantecleer. pp. 59–60. ISBN 9789021304618.
  6. ↑ "Passepoil, Piqûres et Pailettes: Dictionnaire du fil, des aiguillles et des étoffes".
  7. ↑ Vanmaercke, Serge (11 March 2004). "L'habit ne fait pas le mot". Trends/Tendances (in French).
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