Paris Men’s Fashion Week: bold Dries Van Noten lets his clothes do the talking

Jun 27 , 2018

Models present Dries Van Noten creations during the brand’s 2019 spring/summer collection show on Thursday at Paris Men’s Fashion Show. Photo: Xinhua

Men's Fashion Week

Belgian designer’s brand, now part of Spanish fashion-fragrance group Puig, impresses with collection mixing exquisite prints and nonchalant elegance

Last week, one of the most authentic independent designer brands, Dries Van Noten, surprisingly sold a majority stake to Spanish fashion and fragrance group Puig.

Even in the fashion and luxury industry, the appetite for mergers and acquisitions remains at a record high this year.

Models present creations of Dries Van Noten, including an olive green overcoat, during the brand’s spring/summer collection show at Paris Men’s Fashion Show. Photo: Xinhua

The eponymous brand launched by Belgian designer Dries Van Noten is now part of a fashion group that includes Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The designer will remain a minority shareholder, and CEO and chairman of the board.

Dries Van Noten is still one of the few brands that really makes money with its clothes.

With the experience and excellence of Puig in the beauty market, the Belgian fashion house is likely to start venturing into the beauty and fragrance businesses.

A model presents designs by Dries van Noten, including a brightly coloured Scandinavian-print shirt and bag, during the eponymous design brand’s 2019 spring/summer collection show at Paris Men’s Fashion Week. Photo: AFP