RAF SIMONS

  • Nationality
    Belgian
  • Main
    Antwerp, Belgium
  • Website
    www.rafsimons.com

SUMMARY
To date, Raf Simons has radically changed the thinking and psychology of our perspectives of menswear. He prevails not just in his astute technical fabrication techniques but the core of his own existence. He seeks to determine pro-independence in the way men dress, individuality and pride in one’s own appearance and an enmacipation of one’s own tastes.
Youth culture is predominantly important to him as a core of innocence and a yet coming-of-age reminds him how the period of adolescence and the hormones of rebellion kickstart. His clothing propositions are strikingly an allegory of the suit, both an enslavement to society’s bigger machine and the sense of belonging, comradeship and ideals. This tension and juxtaposition is what Simons has thrived upon, evidently in show presentations since his beginning, unorthodox methods including long escalators, Kraftwerk, revolving mirrors panels, abandoned carparks have been contexts that he has used to communicate and express authentic individuality within the cogs of fashion. Music has also been integral to his vernacular including Grace Jones, Burial, Fuck Buttons, British Post-Punk to name just a few. Today, he is ubiquitously celebrated as the defining influence in contemporary menswear.

HIGHLIGHTS
Studied Furniture and Industrial Design in Belgium

Secretly interns at Walter Van Beirendonck and works on his collections including for Paris showings

Becomes self-trained menswear designer after introduction to Head of Fashion Department Linda Loppa’s father; 1995

Produces two menswear seasonal collections for Italian company Ruffo Research; 1999

Launches ‘Isolated Heroes’ book made with British photographer David Sims; 1999

Head of Fashion Department, University of Applied Arts, Vienna; 2000 – 2005

Awarded with Swiss Textiles Award; 2003

Launches second line Raf by Raf Simons; 2005

Launches ‘Raf Simons Redux’ book with Petter de Potter coninciding with brand’s 10th year anniversary; 2005

Appointed creative director of Jil Sander; 2005 –

Launches two Raf Simons flagship stores in Tokyo and Osaka. Designed by American artist Sterling Ruby and British artist Roger Hiorns respectively; 2008