Dries Van Noten has announced that he is stepping down from his namesake label, which he has headed up for almost four decades. The Belgian designer revealed that he wants to focus on other things, and feels ready for a new name to put a spin on his brand.

“In the early Eighties, as a young guy from Antwerp, my dream was to have a voice in fashion,” Van Noten said in a statement today. “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 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.”

Van Noten launched his house in 1986, starting with menswear and eventually branching out. He has won various prestigious awards, and has dressed some of the most famous women in the world, including Cate Blanchett for the Oscars in 2008, Michelle Obama during her time in the White House, as well as the likes of Tessa Thompson, Kirsten Dunst and Rihanna, who have opted for his punchy prints.

The designer will show his final collection for the house during the men’s spring/summer 2025 season. The women’s SS25 collection will be made by the studio team, he said. “I have full confidence that they will do a great job.”

“In due time, we will announce the designer who will continue the story. However, I will stay involved in the house that I treasure so much.”

Van Noten sold a majority stake in the business to the conglomerate Puig in 2018, and signed on – at the time – to stay as chief creative officer, as well as being a chairman on the board. He will likely continue to hold the latter position, and will remain a minority stakeholder in the business.

“We respect Dries’ wish to step aside, after an exceptional 38-year career in fashion,” Marc Puig, chairman and chief executive officer of Puig added. “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.”