Raf Simons once said: "I don't want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future."
Based on his memories and visions of the future, Raf has established himself as one of the today's leading designers.
In addition to heading his eponymous brand, Raf Simons is the co-creative director of Prada with Miuccia Prada, since April 2020, where the two share the same responsibility in making creative decisions. Prior to that, Simons was creative director of Calvin Klein until he left in December 2018, less than two years after taking office.
Previously, the Belgian designer led Dior at the forefront of modernity with its innovative approaches to the design of ready-to-wear, accessories and haute couture. Prior to his appointment to the Parisian house, Simons spent seven years as creative director of Jill Sander.
Simons originally graduated from Industrial Design and Furniture Design in 1991, and then worked as furniture designer for various galleries.
Encouraged by cute loppa, head of the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Antwerp, the self-taught Belgian designer launched the brand Raf Simons, which started as a youth culture line, in 1995.
Today, innovation, modernity and individuality remain core tenets of its menswear line and the creative fusion of the arts for which the brand is known. Raf Simons (music, acting and art have always played an important role in the creative process of the designer) is an approach that he has replicated in the different houses he has run.
In 2008, two independent flagship Raf stores were opened in Tokyo y Osaka, Japan, in collaboration with the artists Sterling Ruby and Roger Horns. Since then, Simons has created collaborative collections with Fred Perry, Asics, Adidas and Linda Farrow.
In June 2005, Simons was named creative director of jil sander receiving industry-wide recognition for his minimalist work on the German label. broadcast line Jil Sander Navy it was launched during his tenure.
Simons left Jil Sander in time for his appointment in Dior in April 2012, replacing Bill Gayten as creative director and ending a transition period following the dismissal of John Galliano.
During his time at the house, Simons established his own modern yet elegant take on Dior's archive of classic silhouettes. In 2015, Simons chose Rihanna as the first black face in the house; Same year, "Dior&I", a documentary of Frederic Tcheng which explores the house's couture atelier and the creation of Simon's first Haute Couture collection in Dior, opened to rave reviews.
In October 2015, he resigned from his position at Dior to switch your focus to your label Raf Simons.
It wasn't until the following August, after continued industry speculation, that the designer was officially announced as creative director of Calvin Klein. When moving to NY, Simons was tasked with leading the creative vision for the iconic American brand, where her debut collection for the label received critical acclaim. He resigned from the position in December 2018.
Simons has been honored with the Swiss Textile Award, which he received in November 2003, and the 2011 presidency of the jury of the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival.
In 2017, he was awarded Menswear Designer of the Year and Womenswear Designer of the Year, and the following year won again for Womenswear Designer of the Year.
In October 2000, the designer was appointed full professor in the Department of Fashion at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, a position he held until June 2005.
He also presented a retrospective installation, "Florence Calling: Raf Simons", at Pitti Uomo in June 2016, and showed a textile collection at the Furniture expo de Milan.