WE’RE OBSESSED WITH DRIES VAN NOTEN X ANN VENDI

words by ANOUK WOUDT

In a collaboration with Ukrainian artist Ann Vendi, Dries Van Noten has unveiled their latest photo campaign as a way of showing off their SS26 collection. Using Vendi’s distinct graphic style, the images merge her funky, bold artistry with traditional fashion photography, transforming their campaign into a piece of art, making it truly museum-worthy. Which they will be soon, with exhibitions planned in New York, LA, Paris and Tokyo.

Based in Berlin, Ann Vendi’s treads through art-deco shapes and bright, colourful contrasts, building abstract worlds through her work. The photos almost mimic optical illusions in the way they play with shapes and colour to offset humans’ natural imagination. At this point, colour blocking feels like a classic Vendi trademark, especially when paired with this retro ‘60s energy that adds another layer of funkiness to the mix.

This collaboration feels like the perfect match for Dries Van Noten, especially this collection. Patterns, colours, and an overall maximalism defined their last runway— which is exactly what Ann Vendi’s art is all about. Without overshadowing the pieces, she uses the imagery as an extension of each garment, almost integrating the piece into the background itself, or, from another perspective, bringing the backgrounds to life through living, breathing canvases. Bodies act as sculptural beings, integrating the models into her artistry, which tends to be portrait-centred. Spirals, polka dots, and checkers burst through each photograph in a whimsical explosion of unkempt and unbothered pattern maximalism. Even the accessories get their own whimsical twist, with each product receiving its own stylised portrait, complete with a sassy pattern-based backdrop.

Even the accessories get their own whimsical twist, with each product receiving its own stylised portrait, complete with a sassy pattern-based backdrop. Each imagery feels fit for a museum, and of course, it’s not just a feeling… They actually will be hitting major exhibition spaces around the world: Mercer in New York, La Cienaga in Los Angeles, Quais Malaquais in Paris, and Aoyama in Tokyo.