RAF SIMONS

Raf Simons (1968-) is a Belgian fashion designer. He studied Industrial design, but after a few years of self-study, he became a menswear designer in 1995. Initially, he worked with Walter Van Beirendonck in Paris, where he was exposed to the work of Martin Margiela and Jean-Paul Gaultier. _______________________________________________ Collections His collections (menswear only) are strongly influenced by youth culture albeit in an indirect way. He often combines strongly cut classic menswear with baggy streetwear-influenced items. Simons' style has been described as highly influential. He is cited as being one of the most important innovators in contemporary menswear by the international press. ______________________________________________ He presents his collections twice a year, usually in Paris, but works and lives in Antwerp, Belgium. In his early years, his runway shows were unconventional: models running down a street or walking in a parking lot, on a bridge, around a photography studio. ______________________________________________ His “Raf Simons” and “Raf by Raf Simons” collections are sold at Barneys and Seven in New York and a variety of locations around the world; stockists are listed on the official website. Raf Simons also launched a 12-piece collection of polo shirts and knitwear in 2008 as part of a collaboration with Fred Perry. _______________________________________________ Креативный директор Дома моды “Jil Sander” Раф Симонс (Raf Simons) является признанным дизайнером-концептуалистом. Чаще всего его коллекции очень лаконичны и выделяются только необычным, качественным кроем, либо цветовой гаммой. Хотя ранее его укоряли в том, что большинство его коллекций очень меланхоличны, теперь этого не могут утверждать даже самые едкие критики. Short bio 1968 Raf was born in Neerpelt 1991 Graduates in Design an Furniture design 1995 Launches his own Raf Simons label 1999 Designs the menswear outfits for Ruffo Research 2000 Sabbatical year 2000-2005 Raf becomes head professor of the fashion department of the university of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria 2003 First prize Swiss Textiles award in Lucerne, Switzerland 2004 Restructure for the Raf Simons company and distribution deal with future present 2005 Launch of Raf by Raf Simons 2005 Raf becomes the Creative Director of Jil Sander in July 2008 Collaboration with Eastpack for the "Material World" collection 2008 Collection of 13 pieces for Fred Perry (release fall 2008)