Born in Antwerp in 1958, Dries Van Noten is the third generation in a family of tailors. On graduating in fashion design at Antwerp’s Royal Academy. he began to freelance as a consultant designer before starting his own collection of menswear in 1986. Positive reaction was almost immediate with orders placed by prestigious customers like Barneys New York, Pauw in Amsterdam and Whistles in London. In September of the same year Dries Van Noten opened a boutique in Antwerp’s gallery arcade only to move in 1989 to ‘Het Modepalais’, a former department store in the Natioalestrraat which remains today. Since its beginnings Dries Van Noten has presented Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter collections of womenswear and menswear. 2017 brought the 100th Dries Van Noten show in March.

Awards & Achievements

In June 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) honoured Dries Van Noten with its International Designer of the Year Award. This was followed by the distinction of ‘Royal Designer for Industry’ (RDI) from the RSA Trustee Board in London in December 2008. In 2009 the Flemish Chamber of Commerce (VOKA) inducted Dries in the « Galerie des Eminents »; the Flemish Royal Academy of Belgium gifted him with the Gold Medal (“Gouden Penning”), and the Couture Council of the Museum at FIT in New-York honoured him with the ‘Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion’. In May 2015 Dries Van Noten was invited to preside over the 25th edition of the ‘Festival International de Mode et de Photographie’ of Hyeres (France), and in 2014 he presided the jury of the 7th ‘A Shaded View on Fashion Film’ Festival.

2014 saw the grand opening of Dries Van Noten’s ‘Inspirations’ – a first even exhibition featuring his designs and influences at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Another configuration of the exhibit moved to Antwerp in 2015 and each welcomed record visitors. In July France decorated Dries Van Noten with the honour of ‘Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ from Jack Lang, former French Minister of Culture. In October 2016, Dries Van Noten won the Culture Award from The Province of Antwerp for his contribution.

Throughout his career Dries Van Noten has on occasion dressed actors for the Academy Awards, the Queen of the Belgians for state visits and designed for various contemporary dance companies including Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and Justin Peck in the New York City Ballers as well as collaborating with artist David Michalek on his performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.