Marina Yee
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Marina Yee | |
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| Born | 1 April 1958 Temse, Belgium |
| Died | (aged 67) Antwerp, Belgium |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Antwerp) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1980–2025 |
| Labels |
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| Awards | Jury Prize at the Belgian Fashion Awards in 2024 |
Marina Mariette Alfons Yee (17 April 1958 – 1 November 2025) was a Belgian fashion designer and a founding member of the Antwerp Six, a group of influential Belgian fashion designers.[1][2] She left the Antwerp Six in 1988.[3][failed verification] Vogue described her as the most elusive member of the Antwerp Six.[4] In 2018, she resurfaced in Tokyo to attend the opening of a retrospective exhibition at the avant-garde vintage shop Laila, where Yee presented five new designs under the name M.Y. Project.[5] This marked her first public output in more than a decade and initiated a successful relaunch of her fashion career. Marina Yee received the Jury Prize at the Belgian Fashion awards in 2024 for her timeless designs and artistic versatility.[6] This award recognized her influential career as a member of the Antwerp Six and her comeback in 2022 with a collection of gender-inclusive pieces, which established her as a pioneer in the industry.[7]
Yee was born in Temse, Belgium, on 17 April 1958, to Liliane de Bruyne and Jean Yee. Her father became a colonial administrator in the Belgian Congo, and the family lived there for a few years before returning to Belgium. Yee's father later became director of a department store chain, and the family moved around Belgium before settling in Hasselt when Marina was 15.[8]
Early career
Yee began her training at the Sint-Lucas Institute in Hasselt[9] before continuing her studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where she remained until 1981.[10] It was during this time that she met the other members of the Antwerp Six. Her career progressed rapidly: shortly after graduation, she received financial backing from partners, first Bassetti and later Hobo.[11][12] For Hobo, she designed a collection titled Marie.[13] Yee has indicated that this collection did not fully reflect her own design vision.[citation needed]
