Earlier this year, Dries Van Noten sadly announced he was stepping away from his eponymous label. Finally, the Belgian label announced Julian Klausner has been promoted to Creative Director.
In a statement made in March, the Belgian fashion designer, 65, said: “In the early ‘80s, as a young guy from Antwerp, my dream was to have a voice in fashion. Through a journey that brought me to London, Paris and beyond, and with the help of countless supportive people, that dream came true.
“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. I feel it’s time to leave room for a new generation of talents to bring their vision to the brand.”
Six long-awaited months after Dries Van Noten presented his last collection, Julian Klausner has been named Creative Director, responsible for women’s and men’s collections.
Klausner graduated from Brussels’s esteemed La Cambre in 2016 and went on to begin his career as a Junior Designer at Maison Margiela. In August 2018, he joined Dries Van Noten as a Womenswear Designer. After working alongside Dries Van Noten for several years, Klausner “represents a natural connection between the past and the future”, according to a statement published by the luxury label.
Dries Van Noten added: “I have complete confidence in Julian’s creativity and vision. He is not only a talented designer but also a clear choice to take over after my departure. His deep understanding of the brand and its values will ensure a seamless transition and a bright future.”
Dries Van Noten
Van Noten said he will remain involved in the House that he “treasures so much”.
Marc Puig, Chairman and Chief executive officer of Puig (which owns a majority interest in Dries Van Noten), said of the move: “We respect Dries’ wish to step aside, after an exceptional 38-year career in fashion. It is a distinct honour for Puig to now be entrusted with carrying his legacy into the future, and a unique responsibility we will treasure as a new and exciting chapter opens for both Dries and the brand.”
Dries Van Noten was the most commercially successful of the much-revered group of fashion designers labelled the ‘Antwerp Six’ who graduated from the city’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s. It includes Ann Demeulemeester, Marina Yee, Dirk Bikkembergs, Dirk Van Saene, and Walter Van Beirendonck. Without compromising his designs or brand DNA, he was never commercial, while remaining wearable for the consumer who appreciated great design and grown-up fabrications and finishes.
Each season was a new page, turning over to reveal a surrealist blue hand or a collaboration with interior designer Verner Panton, yet still recognisably Van Noten. Van Noten has never relied on his name to sell. He is an exceptional tastemaker and has relied on people wanting to buy into his vision and world.
Handing the reigns over to Klausner, the newly appointed Creative Director will present his first women’s collection on 5 March during Paris Fashion Week. His first men’s runway is scheduled for June 2025.
