Dries Van Noten's Antwerp roots
Dries Van Noten grew up among racks of clothes. His grandfather and father were both tailors, and in 1970 his father opened a boutique on the outskirts of Antwerp. Trips to the menswear shows in Milan, Düsseldorf and Paris taught him the trade. They also showed him that design, not retail, was what held his interest. He studied at Antwerp's Royal Academy and joined the Antwerp Six. His first menswear collection was presented in London in 1986. The house stayed independently financed until Puig took a majority stake in 2018.
Print, color and layering
The aesthetic rests on complex prints, color collisions and layers. Coral meets forest green, and raspberry sequins sit against pale blue crepe. On paper it sounds wrong. On the body it reads as serious and calm, never camp.
Each collection starts from art, cultures and history, and the house selects its materials carefully. That tailoring background shows in the cut of coats, knitwear, shirts and pants, each with its own silhouette. Men's and women's collections are shown twice a year, and almost all of the business is clothing. Dries Van Noten for women and Dries Van Noten for men follow the same design language.
Dries Van Noten sneakers and bags
The accessories carry the same clashing colors and careful detailing as the clothes. Suede sneakers with leather trim come in a range of colors, and leather loafers, Chelsea boots and biker boots follow the same sharp line. Small leather bags, an embroidered crossbody and a tote all have a defined form. The founder now oversees store design, fragrance and beauty, and special projects.
Awards and a new chapter
In 2008 the CFDA named Dries Van Noten International Designer of the Year. The retrospective Inspirations opened at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2014 and traveled to Antwerp in 2015. He became an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and WWD named him Designer of the Year in 2023. His 2019 collaboration with Christian Lacroix is among the most talked about of his career.
Julian Klausner took over as creative director after the final collection in June 2024. The Fondazione Dries Van Noten opened in Venice in April 2026. Stoy carries Dries Van Noten for both men and women.
FAQ
What is Dries Van Noten famous for?
The house is known for sophisticated prints, bold color combinations, eclectic fabrics and layering. Each collection draws on art and cultures, and the founder's tailoring background shapes the cut of the clothes. Almost all of the business is clothing.
Is Dries Van Noten a luxury brand?
It is a respected fashion house with its own standalone stores and a wide wholesale network, and it has won major industry awards. It stayed independently financed until the Spanish group Puig took a majority stake in 2018. Its reputation rests on craft, fabric and design rather than advertising.
Who is the creative director of Dries Van Noten today?
Julian Klausner, who trained at La Cambre in Brussels and joined the house in 2018. He took over after Dries Van Noten's final collection in June 2024 and showed his first women's collection in Paris in March 2025.
Is Dries Van Noten Belgian?
Yes. The brand was born in Antwerp, where the house still has its headquarters in a five-storey building by the harbor. Its founder was part of the Antwerp Six, the group of Antwerp-trained designers who broke through in the 1980s.
Who owns Dries Van Noten?
The Spanish group Puig acquired a majority stake in 2018. Dries Van Noten stayed on as creative director until 2024. He remains involved with store design, fragrance and beauty, and special projects.
