Dries Van Noten Quotes

Powerful Dries Van Noten for Daily Growth

About Dries Van Noten

Dries Van Noten, born on March 13, 1958, in Antwerp, Belgium, is a renowned fashion designer known for his eclectic and imaginative style. Growing up in a family with a rich textile heritage, he was deeply influenced by the vibrant cultural scene of Antwerp, particularly its rich artistic tradition. Van Noten began his career in 1986 when he opened his first boutique, Dries, in Antwerp. His designs were an immediate success due to their unique blend of diverse influences from various cultures and eras. He gained international recognition in the early 1990s after showing his collections at Paris Fashion Week. Van Noten's work is characterized by a love for patterns, textures, and colors, often drawing inspiration from ethnic textiles, art history, and his personal travels. He is known for his innovative use of unusual fabrics and intricate prints, which have become his signature style. In 1997, he was awarded the Belgian Officer in the Order of the Crown by King Albert II. In 2003, he was honored with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) International Award. One of Van Noten's major works is his collaboration with iconic artists and designers such as Peter Lindbergh, Tim Walker, and Rei Kawakubo. His designs have been showcased in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Today, Dries Van Noten continues to push the boundaries of fashion with his eponymous brand, Dries Van Noten, which has stores in major cities globally. His designs are cherished by fashion enthusiasts for their timeless elegance and artistic integrity.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Fashion is not about wearing what's trendy; it's about expressing who you are."

This quote by Dries Van Noten underscores the idea that fashion serves as a form of self-expression, allowing individuals to communicate their unique identities and personal styles rather than blindly following fleeting trends. By choosing clothing and accessories that reflect one's personality, preferences, and values, we can create a visual narrative about ourselves and engage in a creative act of individualism within the broader cultural context of fashion.

"I'm very much inspired by the past, but I always try to look for something new and fresh."

This quote emphasizes that designer Dries Van Noten finds inspiration in historical or traditional styles, yet he consistently seeks novelty and originality in his designs. He is a proponent of preserving the essence of past aesthetics while innovating to create something modern and captivating.

"I like to mix and match different things, that's what makes it interesting."

This quote emphasizes the creative concept of juxtaposing diverse elements to generate intrigue and interest. In design, fashion, or any form of art, Dries Van Noten suggests the value in combining seemingly unrelated items, ideas, or styles to create unique, engaging, and compelling work.

"Clothes should be fun, and fashion is a way of showing your personality."

Dries Van Noten's quote suggests that clothing serves as an expression of one's individuality and personality. In other words, what we wear isn't just about covering our bodies; it's a means to showcase our unique identity, preferences, tastes, and moods. The statement advocates for a playful and joyful approach to fashion, encouraging people to let their personalities shine through their style choices. This perspective encourages self-expression and individualism in the realm of fashion.

"I don't follow any rules; I make my own."

This quote by Dries Van Noten highlights his independent and innovative spirit in fashion design. He emphasizes that he doesn't conform to traditional or established norms, instead choosing to forge his unique path. His approach encourages creativity, individuality, and self-expression within the realm of fashion. It also signifies a willingness to challenge the status quo and pave the way for new trends in design.

Picasso took scraps of wallpaper, and instead of using paint and a brush, he used all the existing elements which he made his artwork with.

- Dries van Noten

Brush, Which, Took, Existing

I have a responsibility to the people who work for me, the manufacturers I work with. There is no point to clothes that don't sell.

- Dries van Noten

Work, Responsibility, Sell, Manufacturers

For me, it's really like, okay, if you go far with the unexpected materials and unexpected proportions or volumes, then keep the colors quite simple and straightforward for men.

- Dries van Noten

Okay, Like, Straightforward, Volumes

I like it when you have something happening by coincidence. Just something in a book is enough. But I prefer a fragment of an image so you are far more free to bring in elements of your own.

- Dries van Noten

Like, Image, Prefer, Fragment

My partner, Patrick, and I live in an old house in Belgium that was built in 1840 and is out in the countryside between Antwerp and Brussels.

- Dries van Noten

Old, Countryside, Built, Old House

Various different people have inspired me throughout my career. From Francis Bacon to Vassareli, Coco Chanel to Christian Dior, Cecil Beaton, musicians, architects... the list is endless.

- Dries van Noten

Career, Different People, Francis

People get this very romantic vision of a fashion designer who in one night makes 25 sketches and in the morning throws them on the table and there are a lot of women in white aprons with the pins on the lapel and they start to grab the sketches and... It's not like that.

- Dries van Noten

Fashion Designer, Pins, Very, Sketches

I collect objects I fall in love with more than antiques per se. Value is not a criteria that attracts me to something.

- Dries van Noten

Love, More, Criteria, Attracts

I love the journeys of research and discovery their development takes me on. I see prints as less 'decorative' than many might, and more fundamental to a garment's core.

- Dries van Noten

Love, Development, Journeys, Decorative

When I have to do something fast, I wear the most unflattering rubber pants over my pants and a big easy sweater. I can get on my knees in the garden in whatever condition, and when I'm done, I can take it off, get in the car, and drive to the office. It's the most practical thing.

- Dries van Noten

Big, Pants, Knees, Garden

The garden is my second profession. It's 22 hectares, which is a big garden. I really need it, going from the flower garden, the shrubs and the trees, the vegetable garden, all these things.

- Dries van Noten

Big, Profession, Which, Garden

For breakfast, I usually have a slice of bread with some homemade jam made from fruit from the garden; the type of jam depends on what particular fruit is being harvested. I learned how to make it from my mother.

- Dries van Noten

Bread, Some, Homemade, Garden

I'm really hands-on. My team brings in elements, but, every season, it's kind of a personal struggle to find the balance and to see how far I want to push the elements.

- Dries van Noten

Kind, Want, How Far, Struggle

All my collections are very personal. It's also because I'm so involved in making the collections.

- Dries van Noten

Personal, Making, Very, Collections

Sometimes, to stimulate your imagination you have to be careful you don't have too much information. You can Google something, and it's in your face, pow! You don't have time to dream any more about it.

- Dries van Noten

Sometimes, More, Be Careful, POW

Coincidence is important, the convergence of different ideas.

- Dries van Noten

Important, Convergence, Coincidence

My office looks very empty compared with my house. The house is completely crammed full with things that Patrick and I love. It's very eclectic. There are things that have no value but which we like. We have a lot of Belgian painters; we have international painters. We have nice things; we have ugly things. I don't want that things are predictable.

- Dries van Noten

Love, Very, Crammed, International

I'm a fashion designer, not a shoe designer. I like to design clothes.

- Dries van Noten

Design, Like, Designer, Shoe

Clothes is just something you put on to cover yourself... fashion is a way to communicate.

- Dries van Noten

Yourself, Communicate, Cover, Just Something

I have my own office, and I'm there during the evenings and weekends. But during the week, I'm sitting in the middle of my studio, talking with everybody, deciding together every detail, every pallette, every yarn, every colour.

- Dries van Noten

Weekends, Everybody, Studio, Sitting

I prefer to see a good exhibit sponsored by a brand than a bad exhibit due to lack of funds.

- Dries van Noten

Bad, See, Prefer, Exhibit

In the 1980s, I was quite well known for my knitwear, and a lot of inspiration came from carpets, where I found ways to use structures and colors and depth of colors.

- Dries van Noten

Use, Well Known, Structures, 1980s

I was a kid at the end of the 1960s and in the early 1970s, so a lot of things changed. You had pop music coming up, with David Bowie, you had new television programmes and all these things. I was fascinated.

- Dries van Noten

Kid, Had, Fascinated, Bowie

For me, restrictions are not always negative. Restrictions can push creativity. I like restrictions.

- Dries van Noten

Negative, Always, Like, Push

The word 'fashion' I don't like because fashion is something that's over in six months. I'd like to find a word that's more timeless.

- Dries van Noten

Over, Six, Months, Timeless

My morning routine varies by how much time I have. In the winter, I like to take baths, but in the summer, I prefer a good shower with some soap and then maybe some moisturizer afterward. I use D.R. Harris and Geo. F. Trumper products, which we also stock at our shops in Paris and Antwerp.

- Dries van Noten

Shower, Some, How Much Time, Baths

I'm a very big fan of winter-flowering shrubs and bulbs. You have the smell, you have the color - it's really like a present from God when something like that is in flower in the middle of the snow.

- Dries van Noten

Big, Middle, Very, Flower

I'm known for color and prints and embroideries.

- Dries van Noten

Color, Known, Prints

When we were studying at the Royal Antwerp Academy, we were taught to seek inspiration from everyone, everything and everywhere. My parents and grandparents were also a great inspiration for me a very young age.

- Dries van Noten

Studying, Everyone, Very, Royal

I make clothes people can wear; I don't make art.

- Dries van Noten

Art, Wear, Make, Clothes

When I get very stressed, I make jam. I like things that produce a quick result, because fashion has such a long lead time. With jam, you start, and two-three hours later, you have 36 little pots, all full.

- Dries van Noten

Quick, Very, Pots, Jam

I'm part of the fashion system, but I don't want to follow all the rules. I don't want to be contrarian - I just want to do my own things, which are most honest and correct to do.

- Dries van Noten

My Own, Which, Correct, Fashion

We always say that fashion is a reflection of our times.

- Dries van Noten

Reflection, Always, Times, Fashion

To create a collection, you need a narrative - an explanation to tell the team.

- Dries van Noten

Need, Tell, Narrative, Explanation

I think by my father owning a store, I was definitely aware of the commercial aspect of selling clothes. His shop was a place I enjoyed spending time in as a boy, so I learned things almost by osmosis at times, by literally just being around all the action and not really despite myself.

- Dries van Noten

Commercial, I Think, Shop, Enjoyed

One of the big luxuries of being in Antwerp is that I can easily walk in the city. In Paris and New York, I am more recognized.

- Dries van Noten

City, New, Big, Luxuries

I prefer ugly things. I prefer things which are surprising.

- Dries van Noten

Things, Which, Prefer, Surprising

My childhood was very, very, very, very traditional.

- Dries van Noten

Childhood, Very, Traditional

I think in the same way when I'm cooking, when I'm gardening, when I'm choosing fabrics. It's a way of living.

- Dries van Noten

Think, Living, I Think, Choosing

I look back on shows now that I thought were good, and I don't like them so much anymore. Or criticism I didn't understand or agree with now makes sense.

- Dries van Noten

Thought, Understand, Like, Criticism

I have nothing against glamorous dressing.

- Dries van Noten

Nothing, Dressing, Against, Glamorous

Many a fashion designer's career was founded using packs upon packs of Polaroids, and though we love them, we forget that the image quality was often circumspect.

- Dries van Noten

Love, Career, Image, Founded

I like to choose my own way forward. I really do want to create something that I personally like a lot.

- Dries van Noten

Forward, My Own, Like, Personally

For me personally, there's too much fashion around in this world.

- Dries van Noten

Me, World, Too, Personally

I don't design for myself. I design something keeping in mind that it has to please a lot of women.

- Dries van Noten

Mind, Lot, Keeping, Please

For me, a show is an event - something we work toward that focuses an idea.

- Dries van Noten

Work, Idea, Toward, Event

In the design process, there's a need to be culturally comprehensive.

- Dries van Noten

Process, Design, Need, Comprehensive

I try to be as independent as possible.

- Dries van Noten

Try, Possible, Independent

I prefer a scruffy atmosphere.

- Dries van Noten

Prefer, Atmosphere

Fashion shows are really my way of communication.

- Dries van Noten

Way, Shows, Really, Communication

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