Fashion designer Dirk Bikkembergs was born on January 2, 1962, in Cologne, Germany. He is one of the "Antwerp Six." After graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in 1981, he gained experience as a freelance designer at various Belgian fashion companies. He began studying under Jean Paul Gaultier in 1984 and won the Gold Spindle Award in 1985, awarded to the most promising new designer. He then founded the men's shoe line "DB." He presented his shoe collection in London in 1986, establishing himself in the fashion industry. In 1989, he participated in the Paris Collection with his men's line, and has been working on women's lines since 1993. In 2004, he launched his sports line. As a sports lover who owns a soccer team, his designs are generally sporty, sexy, and powerful. Furthermore, influenced by his father who was a soldier, the brand offers a wide range of military-style items that make extensive use of leather. In 2009, the brand opened a flagship store in Milan. Currently, the men's collection is shown in Milan and the women's collection in Paris.