5. Return of Dries Van Noten’s Post-pandemic
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 28: Designer Dries Van Noten walks the runway during the Dries Van Noten Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)
After almost three years, the Belgium designer returned to the runway with the Black to Colour Spring/Summer 2023 collection. Beginning the series with solid all-black pieces, which symbolised darkness and solidary, the series gradually built to flambouyant multi-coloured ruffles, colours and shapes which represented joy.
The highly anticipated runway show is considered to be a portrayal of the designers post-pandemic psyche. “It was my first show in quite a while, so I thought, let’s start with a black square: ‘from zero’. Black means fabrics, textures, shapes, and it was really nice because on the one hand we wanted to make something quite tough, but also something very tender,” said Van Noten.
Reminding us that there is beauty in darkness, the series focused on the message of optimism and how fashion is a tool of expression and storytelling. Even the glass jewellery used were metaphors for our world. ‘Glass is hard but also fragile, and I think that’s quite right as a symbol of the world we are living in.’ he further added. Nevertheless, it is true that this emotional designer truly treats fashion as an artform.
In all, it is quite clear that Paris Fashion Week 2022 had many noteworthy moments which potray the ever-changing industry post-pandemic. Fashion continues to be a pathway of expression and art. Whether it be through technology, sustainability, movement or the freedom of expression, fashion and design continue to reflect the status of the current society, reminding us that there is beauty in darkness and as one chapter closes another begins.
