RAF SIMONS

Raf Simons was born in Neerpelt, Belgium, in 1968. He is the son of a military man and a housewife who gave him valuable advice: "Do what you believe in, but take it seriously." He became interested in punk and electronic music at a very young age, attended a Catholic high school, but remained quite isolated because he always wore black. After high school he enrolled at the University of Genk, where he studied Industrial and Furniture Design and graduated in 1991, becoming a furniture designer. During his studies, however, he became interested in the world of fashion. More than traditional fashion, what attracts him is the experimental fashion of which Antwerp is the capital. He meets Walter Van Beirendonck who asks him to make some objects for the presentation of his collection in Paris. He follows him to Paris and participates as a spectator in a few fashion shows. That of a very young Martin Margiela will electrocute him and make him realize that his path is to become a designer. For the first time, Simons understands that fashion can be unconventional and go beyond any set pattern. Encouraged by Linda Loppa, head of the Fashion Department at the Royal Academy in Antwerp, Simons abandoned his career as an industrial designer and began working on the men's line that bears his name, which he founded in 1995. In 1997 he presented his first collection in Paris: the slim-cut men's suits immediately won critical acclaim. Pride in Individuality became the leitmotif of his collections. Dressing is a representation of one's individuality; it is self-expression. Simons is inspired by music, writing, art and youth culture. Collection after collection Raf Simons' name becomes synonymous with innovation and avant-garde. For two seasons, at the turn of 1999-2000, he is called upon by Italian leather brand Ruffo Research to design the men's collection. Raf Simons is a designer closely connected to the world of sneaker culture. His collaborations with Adidas are cult-like. The designer started with the Stan Smiths, but later reworked the Ozweego, sneakers launched by the brand in the 1990s that have fallen into oblivion. Simons' chunky version, however, brought them back to the Olympus of the trendiest sneakers from 2013 onward. Their signature style? Hyper-voluminous shoes, oversized midsoles and overlapping, colorful layers. The Belgian designer has been collaborating with Fred Perry for more than a decade. For the British brand, he has created collections that celebrate different aspects of Britain. The winter 2020-2021 capsule is a tribute to the 100 Club, one of London's most historic clubs. Everyone, fell in love with its ability to alternate between rebellion and discipline.