Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten is a famous Belgian designer, born in Antwrep, on 12th May, 1958. His father opened a large fashion store in the city, in 1970, and sold Ungaro, Ferragamo and Zegna. Van Noten started accompanying his father to various fashion shows in Milan, D¸sseldorf and Paris, at a very young age. He joined the Antwerp Fashion Academy and at the age of 18 in 1976, and graduated in the year 1980. While studying he worked as a freelance designer, designing clothes for children and simultaneously worked as a buyer for his fatherís Antwerp boutiques.

After graduation, he continued as a freelancer until he presented his own collection of blazers, shirts, trousers and coats for men, in London. He received recognition as "The Antwerp Six", along with five other Belgian designers and also got orders from well-known retailers such as Barneys New-York, Whistles in London and Pauw in Amsterdam. He opened his first shop under the name "Het Modepaleis" in Antwerp, in 1989 and sells clothes to approximately 400 stores worldwide, from New York to LA to Amsterdam.

His designs are recognized by his creative use of prints (often ethnic), colours, original fabrics and layering. He comes up with four collections every year consisting of menís and womenís wear for both summer and winter seasons, and sells more than 1000,000 pieces every season, without any advertisements.