We🖤Dries Van Noten, the role of the Art Director, and the history of Fendi
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Dries Van Noten is leaving his brand
Have you heard the news?
The Belgian fashion designer announced on March 19 that he will be exiting his namesake brand in June after a 38-year career in the fashion industry. His dedication and continuous talent are impressive.
He will present his last men’s show for the spring 2025 season during Paris Fashion Week in June. The Women’s Spring Summer 2025 collection will be made by Dries Van Noten’s studio team.
In a personal letter shared by parent company Puig, the designer explained his decision:
“Now, I want to shift my focus to all the things I never had the time for. [...] 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.”
Dries’ successor hasn’t been named yet. “In due time, we will announce the designer who will continue the story of the DVN Men & Women. However, I will stay involved in the House that I treasure so much,” Van Noten said. Puig added that he will continue as chief creative officer and chairman of the board.
Dries Van Noten studied fashion design at Antwerp’s Royal Academy. On graduating, he began to freelance as a consultant designer before launching his eponymous label in 1986.
He made his runway debut at the Paris Fashion Week in 1991 with a menswear collection. His first womenswear show followed two years later.
Ever since, the designer has staged two womenswear and two menswear runways each year. His 50th show was staged in 2004 and his 100th show was celebrated in 2017.
Van Noten’s designs are characterized by playful and elegant silhouettes, embroidered gowns, bright colors, and bold prints. In his own words, this is how he views his design signature, according to the company’s website:
“I see a garment as a singular item of excellence that is part of a larger story told, firstly, within a designer’s vision for a collection and ultimately as part of the final wearer’s expression of their style through their wardrobe. My joy is to create a garment that fuses and balances beauty, craft and function, a garment that can perform well and continue in time to become part of life’s story. I enjoy juggling with colours, textures and light in a way that evokes rather than provokes.”
We are sad to see such an exceptional designer leave but look forward to following the legacy of his brand.
What happened in the industry this week?💚
Is Michael Kors leaving too?
Rumors have been circulating this week about Michael Kors’ potential departure from his eponymous brand. They started with a WWD report citing anonymous sources that top management has been making succession plans to prepare for the designer’s exit, according to BoF.
However, Capri Holdings, which owns the label, denied those rumors. In a statement shared on Wednesday, the group said that the designer would not be stepping down.
”Michael Kors is and will remain the chief creative officer of his namesake company. His vision is essential to our success,” John Idol, chairman and chief executive of Capri Holdings, said in a statement to BoF. “Any information to the contrary is incorrect.”
Nicolas de Felice is the next Jean Paul Gaultier guest designer
Jean Paul Gaultier has named Courrèges designer Nicolas de Felice his next guest couturier. The collection will be unveiled during Paris Couture Week, scheduled for June 24 to 27.
Jean-Paul Gaultier has been inviting different guest designers since his retirement in 2020. The honor has been previously given to Simone Rocha, Rabanne’s Julien Dossena, Haider Ackermann, Olivier Rousteing of Balmain, Glenn Martens of Y/Project and Diesel, and Sacai’s Chitose Abe.
Hermès is facing a first-class action lawsuit over the sales of Birkin bags
Hermès is facing a class-action lawsuit in the U.S., accusing the French luxury brand of unfair business practices around its iconic Birkin bag.
The lawsuit has been filed by two California shoppers, Tina Cavalleri and Mark Glinoga. According to the Business of Fashion, they allege that Hermès required them to buy products from other categories to purchase a Birkin.
According to Fashion Law, the plaintiffs accuse Hermès of violating several US antitrust regulations, which define the practice of conditioning the sale of one product to the purchase of other products as an abuse of market power.
Gucci sales to fall 20%
The company reported that its sales are likely to fall by 20 % year-on-year due to “poor performance in the key Asia-Pacific region,” BoF reports. This would be a significant decline considering that Gucci accounts for more than half of its parent company Kering’s revenues. The luxury group added that its first-quarter revenues will likely decline by 10% on a comparable basis.
Annie Leibovitz has officially become an Immortal
The famous photographer was inducted into the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris on Wednesday, earning the title of Immortal. She received a ceremonial sword from Anna Wintour, marking her induction as a lifetime member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
Michael Kors introduced new fragrances under a licensing agreement with EuroItalia
Michael Kors Pour Femme and Michael Kors Pour Homme will first launch in Italy in May, before hitting international stores.
According to WWD’s Beauty Inc., “The Michael Kors license passed to EuroItalia after The Estée Lauder Cos. wound down its Aramis & Designer Fragrances division in 2021”.
YSL Loveshine Pop-up
YSL Beauté will host a pop-up in Paris to celebrate the launch of its new lip collection, YSL Loveshine. The immersive experience, free of charge, will take place on March 26 and 27 near Paris’ Place de la République.
Macy x Dior flower show
For its 49th annual Flower ShowMacy is partnering with Dior for the second year in a row. The event will highlight in particular Miss Dior fragrance. The free immersive floral experience will take place from March 24 to April 7 at the Herald Square flagship location in New York City.
Fashion Career Tips
Are you pursuing a creative career in fashion and managing a brand or magazine’s visuals sound like a dream job?
The role of a fashion Art Director may be the one made for you.
Fashion brands and magazines work with Art Directors to manage visual aspects of campaigns, product shots, magazine covers, page layouts, and more.
In our latest article, we guide you through this fascinating career. You will learn about:
The responsibilities and average day of an art director
The skills you need the most
What are the best studies for this role
And how to start your career in fashion to become an art director
Read the article here.
Fashion Campaign Of The Week💖
Cara Delevigne fronted Stella McCartney’s summer 2024 campaign that highlights the waste produced by the fashion industry. It was shot at the Veolia recycling plant in South London.
According to the company’s website, Stella McCartney chose Cara Delevigne to front the campaign for her eco-activist credentials. She is a trustee of EcoResolution and founder of Initiative Earth; a charity supporting everything from ecosystem restoration to educational resources.
According to WWD, it’s the brand’s most conscious collection to date with 95% of the materials being sustainable.
What to visit this week 👠
Paolo Roversi exhibition at Palais Galliera in Paris
If you are looking for new fashion exhibitions to visit, this can be an interesting one. It opened on March 16 and will run until July 14.
The exhibition marks Roversi’s first major show in Paris. It is also the first time the Palais Galliera has dedicated a monograph to a living photographer.
Paolo Roversi and exhibition curator Sylvie Lécallier selected the 140 works of the Italian photographer, including previously unseen images and archives from his personal archives at his studio in Paris, where he’s been based since 1973.
What to read this week 📚
This week, we invite you to read about the history and evolution of Fendi.
Fendi launched as a small handbag and fur boutique in 1925. Fast forward to almost 100 years, the Roman house became one of the most renowned luxury brands in the world, mostly known for its luxurious furs, and the iconic Baguette bag.
In our latest article, you will learn about the origins of Fendi, the Artistic directors through the years, iconic Fendi products and fashion shows, and more.
Fashion Profiles to follow this week
Follow fashion photographers Annie Leibovitz and Paolo Roversi to discover their amazing work.
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Giada Graziano, Inside Fashion Editor in Chief and Glam Observer Founder
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