In this short and precise documentary Noten explains the inspiration and creation process of his most iconic collections, strongly influenced by his strict education in the Antwerp school in Belgium; Lucian Freud; the traditional paintings present in his parents’ house and his native city; the great and eternal muse Bowie; movies like The Piano; the artist Malcolm McLaren or the wonderful world of flowers.
#DESIGNERBIO
Member of the iconic collective called “the six of Antwerp”, Dries Van Noten is considered one of the most famous designers. He was raised in a family of clothing manufacturers and merchants – (his father owned a menswear store and his grandfather was a tailor). He graduated in 1980 from the art school of Antwerp and began his career as a designer in 1986, presenting his first mens collection in London with his other Belgian pals. Noten does not offer haute couture, he offers clothing ready to put on. He is known for being a master of textiles and for mixing functional design with craft processes.
He tells us his story through clothes, feeling like a child in a candy store while creating. When he feels he is not learning and having fun any more is when he stops. For him, clothes are a language, He doesn’t want to disguise people, He doesn’t want to hide anyone behind the clothes, he wants people to be able to play and express themselves.
Written by Sara Calviño