Belgian designer Dries Van Noten is ready to hand over control of his brand to a successor, according to the latest reports from WWD.
This announcement marks the culmination of nearly 40 years in the fashion industry for the talented designer. His final show will debut in June at Paris Men’s Fashion Week.
Meanwhile, the search for the brand’s future creative director has been underway for several months. “The designer chosen to continue our story will be announced at the appropriate time,” revealed Van Noten. “I have been preparing for this moment for a long time, and I feel it is time to make way for a new generation of talent, bringing their vision to the brand.”
This news has shocked fashion enthusiasts, although the brand’s shift was predicted since 2018 when the Puig conglomerate acquired a majority stake in the brand. However, this announcement marks the true end of a glorious era in the fashion industry.
According to WWD’s investigation, Van Noten’s potential successor could be a member of Tod’s, Bally, Alexander McQueen, or Moschino. The first collection without the brand’s founder’s involvement will be created by the design team that has worked alongside Van Noten for many years.
However, the designer will still retain the position of chairman of the fashion house’s board of directors: “I will still be attached to the house that I deeply love.”
Dries Van Noten’s career has been praised by many over the years. His designs were exhibited at the Decorative Arts Museum in Paris in 2014, showcasing the influence of pop culture and art in fashion designs. Last year, he received the WWD Honor Award for Designer of the Year, and previously in 2008, he was awarded the CFDA International Designer of the Year.
Van Noten has been praised by The New York Times as “one of the sharpest minds in the fashion industry.” His career began in the 1980s at the Antwerp University, where he graduated in fashion design alongside Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Marina Yee, a group later known as the Antwerp Six.
He founded his eponymous brand in 1985, debuting at Paris Fashion Week in 1991. Over the years, his designs have harmoniously combined advanced technology with exquisite tailoring.
Notably, the designer does not use media to promote his work. “My brand is currently growing strong. Like tending to a garden, you decide what to plant, and at some point, it continues to bloom,” Van Noten shared with WWD.
“At seeing our designs present everywhere in the world, I know that we have occupied a place in the lives of fashion enthusiasts. I am certain of this: the future of DVN still shines brightly.”
