Raf Simons was born in Belgium in 1968. He studied furniture design at the Antwerp Royal Academy. It’s ironic that he would make such a serious impact on fashion....
Our short story begins at the third showing of Maison Martin Margiela. Simons, interning for Walter Van Beirendonck at the time, travelled to Paris Fashion Week in 1991. The show took place in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Paris at a playground. This moment motivated Raf to self-train himself as a fashion designer.
Youth culture is commonly referenced in his shows through, styling, messaging and models cast. For example, the skinny silhouette with tight fitting suits, Simons is well-known for. Today, if you go into any H&M, that style is a premiere mens item. Simons has shown a multitude of versatility in his career. He has run major fashion houses including Jil Sander (June 2005), Dior (April 2012), and currently Calvin Klein. Simons has used his process and expertise to leave his mark on these major fashion companies.
We Only Come Out At Night
Release date: A/W 1996 -97
Item: Black Wool Sweater
Story:This Raf’s second collection was shown via video.
‘Woe Unto Those Who Spit On The Fear Generation...The Wind Blow It Back’
Release date: S/S 2001 -02
Item: Red Hoodie
Story:This collection is probaly Raf’s most impactful show, Imagery included, coverd faces and red lights.
Raf Simons x Sterling Ruby
Release date: A/W 2014 -15
Item: Blcak Double Sweatshirt
Item: Black Bleeched Skinny FIt
Story:This was not the first time Raf collaborated with Sterling Ruby but this was the first time the designer created an entire collection with Ruby.
Back To The Archives, No Longer Relevant
Release date: A/W 2015 -16
Item: Grafiti Coat
Story:This item is reminicent of Raf’s school days. In Belgan culture freshmen in college are given these long white lab coats, and throught the years through forms of hazing document their experience with handwritten memories.
This year the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Simons, Best Woman and Men Designer. This being the ultimate goal he could reach in his first year at Calvin Klein.
Raf Simons’s self -titled brand was started in 1995. With his obsession with youth culture, Simons has created fashion that shook the creative world. Early on, Simons’s collections were filled with oversized dark collections and graphics related to university and hate group organizations.
It is fascinating to see older Raf Simons Shows. All of Simons’s collections are different versions and bring new ideas and concepts.
I see Raf Simons as a clothing brand, that ‘is what it is.’ But Simons shows in his work the connection between art and fashion.
Simons throughout his career has stated the importance for people to look at his pieces as clothing. But with his precision and the way he eloquently displays some of his own thoughts, I think it is safe to safe Raf Simons is not only an accomplished designer, but an artist.
How do you do. My name is Terrence Allen and Im the writer. And I would like to tell you about my good friends, Chris Spivey the photographer.
By Random Object Gallery.