The hand-crafted invitation, a piece of plaster, was immediately understood at the start of the show. The initial looks seemed to be made from raw canvas, particularly look 8, which resembled a modernized artist’s smock. Van Noten drew inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement, using it as a starting point to explore historical Flemish tapestries, the deconstruction of form, and textures and techniques more associated with fine art than fashion. This intelligent, curious approach resulted in a collection with a more conceptual feel compared to recent ones. The tapestries were photo-printed onto the fabrics, inspired by Baroque Belgian originals, creating a contemporary trompe-l’oeil effect with oversized maximalist prints. Skillful patchworking and topstitching brought these prints to life, transforming them into handcrafted objects. The show notes mentioned knitwear inspired by textile and ceramic art, giving it an ‘unruly free-spirited’ feel, enhanced by hand-knotted macramé fringes that added a truly artisanal touch. More modern photo prints of patchworked denims, along with metallic silver and technical fabrics, contrasted beautifully with the craftwork, adding a sense of novelty. The runway ended with a wall of vintage French car headlights, created by Royal de Luxe, capturing the models in a dramatic light. Van Noten, while carving his unique path and growing his fan base each season, remains perfectly on trend with wide-legged trousers, oversized sweatshirts, re-imagined camouflage prints, and a mix of soft-tailored smart and chic street-casual looks.