Co-founder and designer, Milk of Lime
Nico Verhaegen
Nico Verhaegen co-runs the Berlin label Milk of Lime with Julia Ballardt as a Belgian-German design duo. Their collections rely on natural materials, local production and a dark, romantic mood that mixes country and city influences. After winning Berlin Contemporary, the label returned to Berlin Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2026 and again for Spring/Summer 2027.
Houses
Co-founder and designer
Milk of Lime
Their runway, measured
20 looks in 1 showNext to every runway we track, Nico Verhaegen's looks are darker, more muted, less neutral and cooler.
Colours
- Black · 1.7× the average42%
- Navy · 5.5× the average23%
- Sky / powder blue · 11.5× the average12%
- Denim blue · 2.1× the average5%
- Burgundy / oxblood · 1.8× the average5%
- Charcoal4%
- Grey3%
- Silver1%
Share of garment area across their looks; × is against every runway.
Colour and surface
- Lightness24/100darker · all runways 39/100
- Colour saturation10.4more muted · all runways 12.6
- Neutrals52%less neutral · all runways 60%
- Warm hues15%cooler · all runways 70%
- Tonal looks45%more tonal · all runways 33%
- Colour-blockingΔE 29less colour-blocked · all runways ΔE 35
- Surface texture2.87smoother · all runways 5.06
- Sheen0.044more matte · all runways 0.065
What sets them apart
Shapes, fabrics and details they use far more often than other designers, with a glimpse of the looks: one from each collection that wore it most.
- Grunge-luxe7.8×Style
- Raw / frayed hems7.2×Detail
- Deconstructed6.9×Style
- Gothic / dark6.4×Style
- Dark6.2×Mood
- Exposed seams / deconstruction5.8×Detail
- Lacing / ties5.1×Detail
- Ankle boots5.0×Footwear
Silhouettes
- Draped 50%4.2×
- Oversized 40%1.4×
- Column 40%2.0×
- Straight / tubular 35%
- Asymmetric 35%2.2×
Materials
- Chiffon / organza / tulle 35%2.7×
- Wool / tailoring cloth 30%
- Silk / satin 30%
- Jersey 30%2.0×
- Cotton / poplin 25%
Details
- Lacing / ties 85%5.1×
- Raw / frayed hems 70%7.2×
- Belts 60%3.1×
- Draping 50%3.7×
- Hardware / studs / chains 40%3.0×
Patterns
- Abstract print 15%3.1×
- Photographic print 15%14.4×
- Graphic / logo 15%6.7×
- Colour-block 15%2.7×
- Abstract stripe / brushstroke 5%2.8×
Mood
- Dark 80%6.2×
- Edgy 50%3.2×
- Romantic 45%2.8×
- Austere 40%2.1×
- Serene 30%1.4×
Era references
- 1990s 5%33% less
- Victorian 5%1.6×
- 1970s 5%55% less
From the AI tags on 20 of their looks. A designer is credited with a house's shows while they lead it; ×: how much more often than across all 25,892 measured looks.
