Belgian designer Dries Van Noten has announced his retirement, stepping down as creative director of his eponymous brand after nearly 40 years. His final show will take place at Paris Fashion Week Menswear in June 2024.

Meanwhile, the designer shared that the women's Spring Summer 2025 collection will be made by his trusted studio team.

“In the early 80s, as a young guy from Antwerp, my dream was to have a voice in fashion,” the designer said, in a letter posted on Instagram. “Now, I want to shift my focus to all the things I never had the time for. I’m sad, but at the same time happy, to let you know that I will step down at the end of June. 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 designer has not yet named his successor – a detail we can expect "in due time" – we can't help but wonder if Dries Van Noten will install yet another male creative director? Time will tell.

Since establishing his label in 1986, the 65-year-old has fostered a cult-like audience for his avant-garde clothes, which illustrate a love of sumptuous fabrics, embroidery, colour and bold prints. Thanks to its eccentric perspective and tightly-clamped values, the label has never had to resort to gimmicks to cut through – an anomaly in the fast-paced, oversaturated fashion industry.

A member of the "Antwerp 6", a group that includes Ann Demeulemeester and Marina Yee, Dries Van Noten has become one of the most respected names in the game. We hope some distance from the label will grant him more time with his beloved dog, Harry, who was depicted in an illustration by Richard Haines which accompanied the news.

Images: @driesvannoten @driesvannoten