Having previously held positions at Dries Van Noten and Marc Jacobs, Meryll Rogge’s own label masterfully fuses classic tailoring with avant-garde creativity
- Who is it? Meryll Rogge is a Belgian designer renowned for her eclectic style, which masterfully fuses classic tailoring with avant-garde creativity
- Why do I want it? With symbolic details like patchwork denim and luxe satin, Rogge’s work balances nostalgia and modernity
- Where can I find it? Available on her website and at select retailers, including Ssense, Dover Street Market and Net-A-Porter
Who is it? Meryll Rogge is a Belgian designer renowned for her eclectic style, which masterfully fuses classic tailoring with avant-garde creativity. Drawing inspiration from punk aesthetics, luxury, and vintage elements, Rogge fuses tradition with a contemporary edge. Her fashion journey began at Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, followed by a stint working alongside Dries Van Noten, where she honed her ability to create bold, wearable collections that defy conventional boundaries. With her own label now established, Rogge is celebrated for crafting thoughtful garments that convey personal narratives while remaining accessible for everyday wear.
Her latest collection is unique in its inspiration – Rogge designed it for her own wedding, creating a collection not just for the bride, but for her whole family. “This was such an intuitive way of designing ... it wasn’t about following the season or trends, just creating what felt natural,” she reflects. Aside from personal inspiration, Rogge’s ethos emphasises honouring craftsmanship; her use of upcycled materials and deadstock fabrics underscores a commitment to sustainability. Each piece balances pragmatism and imagination, deliberately constructed yet infused with sentiment.
Rogge’s creative background weaves together experiences from both Antwerp and New York, allowing her to cultivate a distinctive voice in the industry. After her studies, she contributed to collections at Marc Jacobs and served as head of women’s design at Dries Van Noten. Describing her work, she says it embodies a “mix of highbrow and lowbrow culture,” marrying unexpected beauty with practical decisions. Her designs reflect a “joyfully ambivalent” aesthetic, celebrating surprising contrasts and fortuitous connections. “I feel like being from this weird country and between all these major forces really allows you to be,” she explains, highlighting how her Belgian heritage fuels her artistic freedom.
Why do I want it? Meryll Rogge’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection is an exploration of personal narrative and innovative design. Drawing inspiration from her wedding in the surrealist town of Cadaqués, Spain – the hometown of Salvador Dalí – Rogge infused each piece with elements from her life, creating a tapestry of personal and cultural references. “It was going to be a few days of celebrations, so I designed for all the different moments, ensuring each piece had meaning,” she shares. With a lookbook shot on dancers rather than models, the collection captures what Rogge describes as the “super high wedding emotions – happy, happy, happy, but also frustrated and fights – everything.”
Furthermore, the collection showcases unexpected silhouettes paired with classic tailoring, offering a fresh take on modern wear. From a repurposed Levi’s 501 patchwork dress to garments featuring ring-like metal eyelets that symbolise the eternal nature of marriage, each design marries the tactile with the imaginative. This blend of rough-hewn denim and luxurious silk hints at the intersection of “something old and something new,” while her innovative knits evoke ceremonial textures.
Rogge’s deconstructed menswear, crinkled satin, and oversized silhouettes further underscore her label’s androgynous edge. The dramatic overcoats and floral-printed dresses – embellished with siempre viva, a flower that represents eternal love – feel personal yet effortlessly wearable. In this collection, Rogge breaks free from conventional design constraints, stating, “I felt liberated in this collection, as it wasn’t so much about trends but more about personal memories.” By blending inspirations from the past, such as Yves Saint Laurent’s 1969 Duchess of Orléans gown, with contemporary gender-fluid dressing, she crafts pieces that resonate with the modern wearer. “One dress was crinkled satin that I developed into cargo pants, bringing masculine and feminine worlds together,” she notes.
Where can I find it? Available on her website and at select retailers, including Ssense, Dover Street Market and Net-A-Porter.
