Dries van Noten
Dries van Noten
Dries Van Notenis a Belgian fashion designer and an eponymous fashion brand. In 2005, the New York Times described him as "one of fashion's most cerebral designers". His style is said to be "eccentric", and fell out of favor during the long period of minimalistic fashion in the early 1990s, only to make a come back towards the mid-2000s, culminating with Van Noten's winning of the International Award of the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2008. That same...
NationalityBelgian
ProfessionDesigner
CountryBelgium
easily luxuries
One of the big luxuries of being in Antwerp is that I can easily walk in the city. In Paris and New York, I am more recognized.
brings far personal push
I'm really hands-on. My team brings in elements, but, every season, it's kind of a personal struggle to find the balance and to see how far I want to push the elements.
bad due exhibit good lack sponsored
I prefer to see a good exhibit sponsored by a brand than a bad exhibit due to lack of funds.
almost aspect aware commercial definitely despite enjoyed learned literally owning selling shop spending time
I think by my father owning a store, I was definitely aware of the commercial aspect of selling clothes. His shop was a place I enjoyed spending time in as a boy, so I learned things almost by osmosis at times, by literally just being around all the action and not really despite myself.
creativity negative restriction
For me, restrictions are not always negative. Restrictions can push creativity. I like restrictions.
bacon cecil chanel francis inspired list people throughout various
Various different people have inspired me throughout my career. From Francis Bacon to Vassareli, Coco Chanel to Christian Dior, Cecil Beaton, musicians, architects... the list is endless.
correct follow
I'm part of the fashion system, but I don't want to follow all the rules. I don't want to be contrarian - I just want to do my own things, which are most honest and correct to do.
car drive knees pants practical rubber wear whatever
When I have to do something fast, I wear the most unflattering rubber pants over my pants and a big easy sweater. I can get on my knees in the garden in whatever condition, and when I'm done, I can take it off, get in the car, and drive to the office. It's the most practical thing.
hours lead produce quick time
When I get very stressed, I make jam. I like things that produce a quick result, because fashion has such a long lead time. With jam, you start, and two-three hours later, you have 36 little pots, all full.
personally
I like to choose my own way forward. I really do want to create something that I personally like a lot.
careful imagination stimulate time
Sometimes, to stimulate your imagination you have to be careful you don't have too much information. You can Google something, and it's in your face, pow! You don't have time to dream any more about it.
book bring elements far fragment free happening image prefer
I like it when you have something happening by coincidence. Just something in a book is enough. But I prefer a fragment of an image so you are far more free to bring in elements of your own.
design
In the design process, there's a need to be culturally comprehensive.
color fan flower god middle present
I'm a very big fan of winter-flowering shrubs and bulbs. You have the smell, you have the color - it's really like a present from God when something like that is in flower in the middle of the snow.