Dries Van Noten is one of the most famous and influential fashion designers of the present day. He is one of the so-called Antwerp Six, a group of graduates from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp who shook up the international fashion scene in the 1980s. His style is characterized by a sophisticated mix of colors, patterns, materials and cuts that are both classic and innovative. He is known for his independent and artistic vision that does not submit to fashion industry trends.
Dries Van Noten was born in Antwerp in 1958 and comes from a family of master tailors. As a child, he was fascinated by fashion and accompanied his father, who ran a men’s outfitter, on shopping trips to Milan, Paris and London. At 18, he began studying fashion design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where he studied with Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Bikkembergs and Walter Van Beirendonck, among others. After graduating, he worked as a freelance designer and consultant before launching his own menswear collection in 1986.
His first women’s collection followed in 1989 and was immediately acclaimed by the international press and buyers. His shows were spectacular and unconventional: he presented his fashion in a circus tent, an abandoned supermarket, a Chinese garden or a Paris train station. He worked with renowned photographers such as David Sims or Inez van Lamsweerde and collaborated with artists such as Yoko Ono, David Bowie or Pina Bausch. His collections were inspired by different cultures, eras and art forms, from India to Japan to Africa, from Renaissance to Art Nouveau to Punk, from painting to literature to dance.
Dries Van Noten is not only a fashion designer, but also a successful entrepreneur. He has been running his own label for over 30 years without outside investors or partners. He owns several stores in Antwerp, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong, as well as an online store. He produces his fashion in Europe and works with local artisans and suppliers. He values sustainability and social responsibility and supports various charitable projects. He has received several awards for his work, including the International Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2008.
Dries Van Noten is a master of his craft and an inspiration for many young designers. He has developed a distinctive signature that is characterized by high quality and great variety. He is an artist who sees his fashion as an expression of his personality and his passion. He is a visionary who constantly explores the boundaries of fashion.
