Jean-Paul Knott is much more than a designer: he is an iconic figure in Belgian fashion. After starting out at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and spending eleven years working alongside Yves Saint Laurent, he founded his eponymous fashion house in 2000.
His philosophy? To create clothes that transcend trends, where simplicity meets sophistication. Each piece is designed as a space for emotion, far from the dictates of fashion.
A brand that travels
Today, the JEANPAULKNOTT brand has established itself on the international scene. From its flagship store in Brussels, it is distributed throughout Europe and Asia. True to its values, production remains local, using exclusively European materials. This success story illustrates the power of a creative vision combined with a sustainable strategy.
WBDM’s support for internationalisation
Wallonie-Bruxelles Design Mode (WBDM) was delighted to support Jean-Paul Knott in his international expansion with a grant from its Fashion Programme, which enabled the brand to strengthen its presence in foreign markets.
KNOTT so MAD: an immersive exhibition
To celebrate this quarter century, Jean-Paul Knott presents ‘KNOTT so MAD’, a multidisciplinary exhibition at MAD Brussels from 28 November 2025 to 31 January 2026.
Entitled ‘Collections to Collect’, the exhibition brings together fashion, art, sound and movement in a vibrant dialogue. More than a retrospective, it is a celebration of a unique career and a constellation of artistic collaborations. Jean-Paul Knott pays tribute to the designers, artisans and friends who have nurtured his vision: Karel Balas, Julian Cerruti, Cathy Coes, Erin Lawlor, Lina Karam, Denis Meyers, Mireille Robaerts, Ingrid Plater Syberg, Jean Claude Wouters, Jacques Weemaels… These partnerships, based on trust and intuition, have shaped a collective, living and evolving body of work.
It’s not fashion. It’s emotion. It’s presence. It’s the poetry of simplicity.
– Jean-Paul Knott
Sincere and poetic fashion
At the heart of this approach, the material plays a key role: chosen for its texture, fluidity, density or transparency, it becomes language, vibration, tactile emotion. Each creation is born from a measured gesture, a clear thought, an intimate relationship with the material. Producing in this way means rejecting standardisation and affirming the value of the gesture and the human connection. KNOTT so MAD is a reflection in motion: a celebration of a designer who, for twenty-five years, has been shaping not only clothes, but a way of being — with clarity, sincerity and grace.