The Belgian designer Dries Van Noten, after a career of 38 years, presented his last fashion show during Paris Men's Fashion Week showcasing a masterful and exciting collection.

The decision was announced a few months ago through an open letter to the public: “Now I want to shift my focus to the things that I never had time for. I’m sad but at the same time happy, to let you know that I will step down at the end of June. I have been preparing for this moment for a while, and I feel it’s time to leave room for a new generation of talents to bring their vision to the brand..." The following womenswear collection, presented in September 2024, will be overseen by an in-house design team.

Van Noten was born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1958, in a family of tailors. At the age of 18, Dries entered the fashion design course at Antwerp’s Royal Academy. In 1986 he debuted his first menswear collection in London, and in 1989 opened the Dries Van Noten flagship store in the Het Modepaleis, a historic department store in Antwerp.

In 2018, the Belgian fashion house sold a majority stake to Puig, the Spanish luxury goods conglomerate to ensure the brand's longevity, expand its team, and diversify its product offerings, including beauty and fragrance. “Puig will be the majority owner alongside Dries, who remains, over the long term, a significant minority shareholder,” said both companies with a joint statement. Furthermore, Dries Van Noten will continue to serve as the board's chief creative officer and chairman.

In June 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honored Dries Van Noten with its International Designer of the Year Award. Later, France decorated Dries Van Noten with the honor of ‘Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Culture Award from The Province of Antwerp for his contribution to Culture. 2014 was the year of the grand opening of Dries Van Noten, “Inspirations”, a first-ever exhibition featuring his designs and influences at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. 2019 saw Van Noten collaborate with world-renowned fashion designer Christian Lacroix on his collection for Women, Spring/Summer 2020. In June 2020, and September 2021, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) again nominated Dries Van Noten for its International Designer of the Year Award.

Dries' signature style embraces innovative prints, strong shades, and rich fabrics. "My joy is to create a garment that fuses and balances beauty, craft, and function, a garment that can perform well and continue in time to become part of life’s story. I enjoy juggling with colors, textures, and light in a way that evokes rather than provokes," said the designer. Each of his pieces has singular originality, all infused with various cultures, this has meant that Van Noten would become one of the most wanted and recognizable contemporary fashion designers in the world.

Van Noten saw his creations as a continuing search for beauty. "The idea of beauty is supremely subjective and very personal. Time also plays a role when our view of what is beautiful to us evolves. A flower, a building, or a garment can be a thing of wonder for one while leaving another completely indifferent. What was beautiful to us even recently may be ugly today. Luckily, all designers have their eye on and language of beauty," he said.

Photo: The end of the Dries Van Noten fashion show SS25 in Paris