For sale here is a pair of pants from Belgian designer Dries Van Noten. Van Noten is one of the original Antwerp Six, a group of designers who graduated from Belgium’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts and were the first group to really put Belgian labels on the map. Some of the other Six include the likes of Ann Demeulemeester and Walter Van Beirendonck, so you can assume DVN is in good company. Each of the Antwerp Six had very different aesthetic sensibilities, but all had a very strong emphasis on quality and construction.
That’s what we’ve got here and what Van Noten specializes in more generally. Like Demeulemeester, his designs are typically quite mature and rarely outlandish. Everything is precisely thought out and execution is always excellent. DVN pieces come at a premium. They’re never cheap, but they’re always well made and often classic in design and execution.
These pants are definitely classic and if you look closely there are also some interesting details. Material is a 100% cotton indigo dyed denim. These days when you hear denim probably the first place you think of is Japan. Japanese denim is indeed very good but there are also a number of high quality European manufacturers producing very high quality denim. Like any quality indigo piece these pants should pleasantly fade and develop with wear as well. The denim has a nice, soft texture and comes in a year-round weight.
This is a pretty straight fit. There is a bit of a taper toward the ankle but otherwise nicely walks the line between slim and loose. Fit and tailoring are probably Dries’ strongest point and no expense was spared on the tailoring here. Other details include branded buttons on the waistband and fly, rivets throughout, and a branded leather tag on the rear waistband. Retail on DVN is never cheap. Current season pants run in the $400-$600 range. This is very likely the cheapest you will find one around.
Size is labeled a 34 and fits a bit loose in the waist. I measure the waist at 36” / 94cm, inseam at 26” / 67cm, rise at 10.5” / 27cm and leg opening at 7.5” / 19cm. The pants come in lightly used, very good shape. There is some minor fading of the indigo but otherwise no holes, tears or stains.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $30.
