As one era ends, another begins for Dries Van Noten. While the brand’s namesake, Dries Van Noten, steps down from the brand he founded in 1986, the brand is expanding its presence in the U.S. by opening its first New York boutique. It comes at a time when the inaugural merchandise will be founder Dries’ last men’s collection—the studio designed its women’s Spring 2025 collection—and feels like a melancholy moment for Dries Van Noten-die-hards.

Though judging on the art-filled space displaying more Dries in one place since even its Barney’s heyday, the designer himself and the company ensure that the brand’s beloved look and aesthetic will forge on under creative director, Julian Klausner.

FashionNetwork.com spoke with Axel Keller, president of Dries Van Noten, to mark the occasion.

Keller said the Puig-owned fashion house has long eyed the Big Apple. “New York has always been a key city for Dries Van Noten, both commercially and emotionally. We are fortunate to have incredibly loyal clients here, and this market has consistently shown a deep appreciation for the brand’s storytelling and craftsmanship. Opening a flagship now is not just about retail; it’s about meaningful presence,” he said, noting that the wait was worth it.

“We finally found the right opportunity after searching for nearly 15 years. It was a search that preceded our relationship with Barneys and was a long time coming,” Keller added.
 
The store sits on Mercer Street near fellow cool fashion brands Khaite, Marni, Proenza Schouler, and Lanvin, as well as the chicest vacuums and HVAC accessories, Dyson. The two-story, 3,530-square-foot space uniquely blends fashion, accessories, and beauty offerings with art.
 
The concept was initially cemented in its first U.S. stand-alone store in Los Angeles. It opened in October 2020 and established the art-retail connection for the artsy Belgium fashion brand.

“Los Angeles offers a unique environment for experimentation. We opened this store during the pandemic. The space we secured is substantial and allows for an art gallery, a vintage vinyl and listening station, a shoppable archive experience, and other elements that encourage exploration of the diverse sources of inspiration on which our House is built,” Keller explained, assuring that while smaller the Manhattan store will also delight.

“Each city has its own rhythm and energy. So, equally, each store resonates differently to capture their environment, the art and design component, our narrative,” he added.
 
Past its vast windows with a sky-high ceiling in the entryway of the typical Soho cast-iron building built in 1866, visitors are immediately immersed in the brand’s beauty offerings and accessories. As the space splits off to an intimate salon with women’s ready-to-wear on the right, complete with a sofa, to the left is a narrow passage that serves as a dedicated art gallery with revolving works. Currently on display is a glass sculpture by Simone Crestani X Ioannis Michalou resembling a series of chemistry glass beakers connected by swirling tubes and containing silica aerogel to represent clouds entitled, “SOS Save Our Sky.” 

The art and design beyond the clothes doesn’t stop there. Throughout the store is furniture and art primarily from Ben Storms, who created marble consoles, gilded gold room dividers, bronze cast wall décor, and a charming marble coffee table resembling an inflatable pillow.
 
Other standouts include Gaetano Pesce’s armchair (Nobody’s Perfect Collection), a 90’s model 795 bookcase designed by Carlo Scarpa for Bernini in 1935, and Tracey Emin’s
“The News Is I Love You” from 2021″.

The resulting interior design aesthetic is eclectic, blending styles such as mid-century, modern, touches of orientalism, and even antiquity. Most notable of the latter is a pair of 17th-century paintings, such as one from the English School, Circle of Gilbert Jackson, entitled “Portrait of Sir Richard Broke” (circa 1600–1640). The name is so amusing that one might think the piece is satire.

Surely, the offerings at Dries Van Noten are enough to tempt anyone to earn the moniker broke.

British cycling apparel brand Rapha announced on Monday the appointment of Jodie Harrison to the role of chief brand officer, a newly created role reporting to CEO, Fran Millar.

Harrison has been consulting across brand strategy for Rapha since January, and will now work with the Rapha leadership team to oversee the end-to-end recalibration of its brand position, according to a press release.

The executive joins from Belstaff, where both Millar and Harrison worked together to transform the British fashion brand’s position and performance.

Harrison cut her brand-building teeth in the magazine industry at GQ. After seven years, she joined Mr. Porter, as its founding editorial director. In 2017, she became Soho House’s creative and content director, followed by time in the U.S. at Anthropologie and online fashion website, Moda Operandi. After returning to lead the Soho House membership strategy, Harrison founded her own brand consultancy, Fell & Scar, and then was poached by Millar to join Belstaff.

“Rapha was built on originality and courage, which Jodie brings to everything she does. I’m delighted she will lead the focus on inspiring new and future fans in this next chapter for the brand,” said Millar, who was appointed CEO of Rapha in September.

Rapha is performance wear cycling apparel brand with a history of material and functional innovation, married to a unique style. Since its inception, the brand has forged collaborations with Palace and Patta.

“At 21 years young, Rapha has already achieved an enviable and established heritage. It’s a brand’s brand – recognised globally and genuinely loved – so shepherding it into a new era comes with great responsibility. This is not something I take lightly – there’s a lot of careful work to do,” said Harrison. 

“No other brand has defined and redefined cycling like Rapha, transforming the way the world sees the sport. Rapha made cycling relevant, evocative and alluring. As such, our founder Simon Mottram has built the kind of passionate community most brands can only dream of.”