“Dear Friends” Dries Van Noten wrote in his letter to his fans on the morning of April 2024, where he outlined his plan to retire from helming the fashion house he founded in 1986. His label had an immense impact on the fashion industry and the way women dress. Dries Van Noten stands as one of the foremost designers in the industry. His upbringing within a family deeply rooted in clothing manufacturing and trade—his father owning a menswear store and his grandfather being a tailor—instilled in him a profound understanding of the craft. Graduating from the Antwerp art school in 1980, he embarked on his design journey, debuting his inaugural menswear collection in London in 1986 alongside his fellow Belgians.
Van Noten's approach diverged from haute couture; instead, he offered wearable garments crafted with meticulous attention to textiles and a fusion of functional design and artisanal techniques. His creations served as narratives, each piece telling a story, evoking the joy of a child in a sweet shop. His creative process hinged on constant learning and enjoyment; when the fun stopped, so did the creation.
His letter continued, “Now, I want to shift all my focus to all the things I never had time for.”“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.”
