Dries Van Noten Is Stepping Down as Creative Director
by Adriano Batista
In the ever-evolving world of fashion, few names have stood the test of time with the grace and innovation of Dries Van Noten. Now, the Belgian designer has announced his decision to step down as Creative Director of his namesake label. A move that marks the end of an era.

Van Noten’s journey began in 1986, and his rise to prominence was meteoric. As a member of the “Antwerp Six,” he, alongside contemporaries like Martin Margiela and Ann Demeulemeester, redefined the fashion industry throughout the 1990s. His designs were not just clothes, but statements of art, culture, and individuality.
For 38 years, Van Noten has been at the forefront of the fashion scene, consistently delivering collections that are as much a feast for the senses as they are wearable. His unique vision has been a guiding light in an industry often criticized for its fleeting trends and constant change. Yet, in a statement that reflects his thoughtful nature, Van Noten expressed a desire to explore life beyond the runway. “I want to shift my focus to all the things I never had time for,” he said, signaling a shift towards personal growth and exploration.
The announcement of his departure comes with a bittersweet acknowledgment of the need for fresh perspectives. “I feel it’s time to leave room for a new generation of talents to bring their vision to the brand,” Van Noten remarked. This generous gesture is a testament to his belief in the cyclical nature of creativity and the importance of nurturing new voices in the fashion dialogue.
As the SS25 womenswear collection looms on the horizon, the fashion house, now under the stewardship of Spanish perfume conglomerate Puig, faces the difficult task of finding a successor capable of carrying the torch Van Noten has held for so long. The collection, to be designed by his studio, will serve as a bridge between the past and the future, a final homage to Van Noten’s legacy before a new chapter unfolds.
MODALISBOA FOR GOOD Backstage!
ZABRA present ‘LIMBIC LANDMARKS’ at Sónar Lisboa
We had the opportunity to chat with Martin about the great skincare reset and what we can learn from Danish clean beauty.
HAIKURE’s SS26 collection, Come As You Are, is for people who want to feel good without the effort, who wear clothes that fit their lives, not the other way around.
Daniel Solano captured by the lens of Arthur Coelho and styled by Dana Fracalossi, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
For his second couture show closing Haute Couture Week, Kevin Germanier chose to have fun.
Glass Cypress’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, The Ones Who Flee, is a meditation on movement, not just physical escape, but the deeper act of resisting what binds us.
For Oakley, it’s been five decades of innovation, turning science into design, and refusing to blend in.
Alan Crocetti’s latest collection, Hard Core Fantasy, is a deeply personal exploration of identity, desire, and self-protection through jewelry.
Francisco Terra’s 15th-anniversary collection for Maldito is a midnight ride through memory, a fever dream of teenage longing stitched into lace and rhinestones.
LARUICCI’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection bottles the chaotic charm of early 2000s Hollywood.
PRISMA’s latest collection isn’t about hiding but about what happens when you stop trying to.
HEREU is marking its 10th anniversary with Memory. A Play of Twos, a photobook that captures a decade of creative exchange.
In a time of movement and uncertainty, Estelita Mendonça’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection questions what clothing means when stability feels like a luxury.
We talked with Ziggy Chen to learn more about the thinking behind PRITRIKE, his process and his relationship with materials.
Take a look at C.R.E.O.L.E’s Spring/Summer 2026 backstage, captured by the lens of Spencer Stovell during Paris Fashion Week, in exclusive for Fucking Young!
Glenn Martens’ Maison Margiela Artisanal collection doesn’t just borrow from history, but it fractures it, reassembles it, and wears it like a second skin.
This weekend, Eastpak reminded us that backpacks aren’t just carriers of belongings – they’re carriers of stories, creativity, and identity
For Spring/Summer 2026, A. A. Spectrum finds inspiration in quiet moments, the natural ease of creativity, and the unforced beauty of renewal.
For Spring/Summer 2026, AV Vattev’s Bohème collection takes its cues from two iconic worlds: the effortless cool of French New Wave cinema and the raw energy of British music subcultures.
Concrete Husband talks about turning psychological collapse into industrial soundscapes, confronting darkness on Berghain’s dancefloor, and why dark techno is, above all, sexy.
Maciej Poplonyk photographed by Arthur Iskandarov and styled by Egor Telenchenko, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
Titled “YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE,” the visuals strip away ambiguity, trading fantasy for sharp, cinematic storytelling.
We met Yoon Ambush – Co-founder and Creative Director of AMBUSH – in Paris during Men’s Fashion Week.
Les Benjamins has turned its attention to the tennis court with a new collection that mixes sport and style.
GUESS JEANS has officially arrived in Tokyo, opening its first Asian flagship store in the heart of the city’s fashion district.
WHOLE is a pilgrimage for the global queer community, a temporary world where joy, radical acceptance, and self-expression reign supreme.
Alexis Otero captured by the lens of Lucas Lei, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
Levi’s® is celebrating Oasis’ long-awaited reunion with a new collection that combines the band’s iconic style with classic denim.
There’s no bitterness in the heartbreak here, just the sense that longing isn’t defeat, but proof you’re alive.
We had the chance to catch up with Ohio-born, Brooklyn-based designer Kody Phillips in his Paris Fashion Week showroom where he unveiled his Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
Dean and Dan doubled down on their love of fashion’s most dramatic moments, remixing 80s power dressing, 90s grunge, and 2000s excess into something entirely their own.