In a deeply saddening turn of events, Myriam Ullens, the visionary founder behind the renowned Belgian women’s fashion label Maison Ullens, met a tragic fate on March 29. This shocking incident occurred just outside her residence in Lasne, a town situated to the south of Brussels, Belgium, as confirmed by the Walloon Brabant public prosecutor’s office. At the time of her untimely passing, Myriam Ullens, a celebrated fashion designer, had reached the age of 70.
This harrowing event unfolded on a Wednesday morning when Myriam Ullens was discovered lifeless in her car, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Disturbingly, her husband, Guy Ullens, associated with Schooten Whettnall, was also a victim, enduring a gunshot wound to his leg during the incident.
The alleged perpetrator believed to be behind this senseless act is Nicolas Ullens de Schooten, the son-in-law of the victim and the son of Guy Ullens de Schooten Whettnall. Nicolas Ullens de Schooten voluntarily surrendered to local law enforcement on the following Thursday, offering no clear motive for the tragic murder.
«The suspect offered no resistance and explained that he had killed his mother-in-law. He was carrying a gun, which was seized. He was taken into custody,» revealed the Walloon Brabant prosecutor’s office. A comprehensive investigation, entrusted to the federal judicial police, is currently underway.
A Visionary Fashion Designer with a Philanthropic Heart
Myriam Ullens gained widespread recognition for her avant-garde creations, which included oversized mouse-grey dinner jackets, sleek trench coats crafted from royal blue lambskin, and casual ensembles fashioned from pleated unbleached viscose. Her designs embodied the essence of nomadic and chic luxury, drawing inspiration from her extensive sailing escapades.
In 1999, Myriam Ullens united her life with Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten Whettnall, a prominent figure in the food industry, a patron of the arts, and a collector of contemporary art, boasting a fortune estimated at over 2 billion euros.
A globetrotter with a philanthropic heart, Myriam Ullens played an instrumental role in establishing orphanages and care centers for malnourished children in Nepal during the 1990s. Subsequently, alongside her husband, Guy Ullens, they founded a school bearing the same name in 2006, offering primary and secondary education in Lalitpur, a town situated on the southern outskirts of Kathmandu.
Moreover, Myriam Ullens was actively engaged with associations dedicated to aiding women facing the challenges of cancer. Following her own courageous battle with cancer in 2003, she initiated the Mimi Ullens Foundation, actively involved in cancer research and patient support across eight French, Belgian, and Swiss hospitals. Maison Ullens emphasized that Myriam’s enduring message was to cherish life each day, and this is how she wished to be remembered.
The label, acclaimed for its collaborations with guest designers such as Véronique Leroy and Haider Ackermann, boasts boutiques in Paris, New York, and Aspen. Their exquisite collections are distributed through luxury retailers across approximately 100 countries worldwide.
