BREAKING: Revered Belgian designer, Dries Van Noten, has just announced he will be stepping down from his role as chief creative officer of his eponymous brand. His final collection is slated to present in Paris in June during the men’s spring/summer 2025 season, bookending a remarkable career that spans nearly four decades.

In a statement shared with WWD, the designer hinted toward the future of his brand, noting, “I have been preparing for this moment for a while, and I feel it’s time to leave room for a new generation of talents to bring their vision to the brand.”

While the announcement has come as a shock, the departure isn’t completely out of the blue. Van Noten had already begun drawing out his succession roadmap after he sold his majority stake in the Antwerp-based label to Spanish fashion conglomerate Puig in 2018. Speaking on the sale, Puig noted at the time that the designer would still remain a “significant minority shareholder” in the brand’s long-term future.

When asked who would design the next DVN womenswear collection, Van Noten told WWD that it “will be made by my studio team with whom I have been working very closely during all these years. I have full confidence that they will do a great job.”

Van Noten’s departure now chucks up a major question – who will replace him and continue his legacy? Regarding this question mark, the designer stated, “In due time, we will announce the designer who will continue the story.”

Photography courtesy of Dries Van Noten.

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