Born in Antwerp in 1958, Dries Van Noten is the third generation in a family of tailors. At the age of 18, Dries entered the fashion design course of Antwerp’s Royal Academy. On graduating, 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. Van Noten works and lives in Antwerp, but his brand has shops in multiple locations worldwide.

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 at the New York City Ballet as well as collaborating with artist David Michalek on his performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.