Dries Van Noten makes stand-alone store debut in London
For fans of Dries Van Noten, the wait is finally over: The cult-favourite Belgian brand has opened its first-ever standalone store in London at Hanover Square today.
Set within a former bank and spanning two floors, the Chandelier-lit space blends a sense of history with a retail environment. Here, visitors can take an "immersive journey" through fashion, perfume and beauty, antiques and design.
The ground floor is dedicated to Dries Van Noten’s women’s ready-to-wear collections, along with fashion accessories and beauty. Descending into the basement, shoppers will uncover the Men’s ready-to-wear collection.
This comes after the luxury brand took over the windows at Selfridges earlier this year. Patterns and fabrics from its September collection took centre stage, brought to life as oversized, weightless forms. It also marked the inauguration of Dries van Noten’s new corner at Selfridges.
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Last year, Dries Van Noten sadly announced he was stepping away from his eponymous label. In December, the luxury label announced Julian Klausner had been promoted to Creative Director.
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.
At the time, Dries Van Noten said: "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 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.
