Biography
Belgian designer RAF Simons is one of the iconic fashion designers of modernity. It is called the main minimalist of fashion, thanks to which the shredded men's narrow costumes, turtlenecks, narrow trousers, shoes, Maxi skirts returned to the podiums.
Each collection is of great interest among experts of fashionable budding. From him is always waiting for an explosion of ideas that he is generously divided into his models of clothes and shoes. In 2008, the influential newspaper The New York Times called him "possibly the most influential designer of the male fashion of the last decade."
Childhood and youth
Raf Simons was born in an ordinary family, which lived in the small Belgian city of Neerpelt. A happy event for his parents occurred on January 12, 1968. Father Jacques Simons served as a military man, and Alde Becker's mother was engaged in household.
In 1991, Simons finishes college in Geke, Faculty of Industrial Design. Driving time works in the specialty in local galleries. The designer explains his interest in the design of the designer so - at that time, its compatriots had only 3 interest and national treasures: diamonds, chocolate and fashion. Chose what was most interesting to his soul.
A young designer at Walter Walter Beiyendonka, who is a member of the famous Antwerp six.
In the youth, Simons considered the world of fashion glamorous and did not show interest. His worldview has changed after visiting the show of the White Collection of Martin Margela, which he falls through the invitation of Walter Van Beiyendonka. Winned so shocked the imagination of a young man that he decides to become a clothing designer.
At that time, RAF Simons make useful dating. In the Antwerp Cafe Witzli-Poetzli, which was considered a bohemian place, he meets the designer Veronik Brankino, a stylist Olivier Rizzo and photographer Willie Vanderpere. The meeting will be a sign, since with these people it will launch the name brand.
Fashion
In 1993, the designer begins to work on creating its own line of men's clothing. Her show will take place in 2 years. 1997 will be for Rafa Simons breakthrough. After the show in Paris, which highlighted all fashion magazines, his and Veronik Brankino Italian clothing brand Ruffo Research invites for the development of two collections.
In 2000, the designer decides to arrange a break in work and closes the company. But after a year, the work on the RAF Simons brand is resumed at the invitation of the Belgian company Gysemans Clothing Industry, which offered it to work out the technical aspects of the production of the brand.
In the same period, in 2000, Rafa Simons is invited to take the position of curator at the University of Vienna University of Applied Art, where he worked for 5 years. In 2003, few people's famous fashion designer becomes a laureate of the prestigious Swiss Textiles Award. Fashion critics immediately took note of the new name in the world of world fashion.
In the biography of the designer, the 2005th year is becoming a turning point. He launches the second line of his own brand by Raf by Raf Simons. A book dedicated to his 10-year-old creativity is coming out, and he is invited to the position of creative director in the fashion house Jil Sander.
Here the designer works fruitfully for 7 years. At the same time, it works on capsular collections for other brands from the RAF SIMONS line. For Linda Farrow Simons creates a collection of glasses, for EastPack - bags and backpacks, for ADIDAS - sports shoes, sneakers and sneakers.
An interesting point of collaboration of brands RAF Simons and Adidas was the release of a limited batch of sneakers with curly holes on the sides. To them, the designer offered three pairs of socks to tone the color of shoes with different drawings.
In 2012, RAF Simons passes to the position of creative director of the women's line in Dior, replacing John Galiano. During this period, the charges of racism began to refuse him, as he involved in his podium show girls exclusively with white leather.
After 3 years of work, RAF Simons leaves the post of creative director of the fashion house of Christian Dior. According to him, the decision is made in favor of developing its own brand. In his statement, he also told about the existence of a number of significant moments that do not concern work.
In the summer of 2016, the famous Belgian starts working on collections for the fashion house Calvin Klein. Here he also works as a creative director. In November 2018, reports were emerging about the disagreements of the company's management with the designer due to the large costs of creating collections and low payback. In December of the same year, Raf Simons left with Alvin Klein.
After the "fashionable" scandal, RAF Simons appeared at the show in Paris in January 2019. According to critics, the new men's collection of the Belgian designer looks like a life-affirming.
In "Instagram" Simons, on its official page, video and photographs of models are posted. You can see that the designer remained faithful to his style: coat in the floor, coarse boots, jackets. The design of raincoats and sweaters complement the footage from the film David Lynch "Blue Velvet".
Personal life
Raf Simons no one talks about personal life. It is known that he has a big house in New York, he loves collecting paintings. His parents are often present on the designer's shows.
The absence of details of the fashion designer outside the podium generates weight of rumors. Information about its non-traditional orientation appeared in the press. But there are no photos or confirmations of the meetings of Raf Simons with other men. The same in relation to women.
Among the friends of the designer, many men and women with whom a long friendship is connected. This is an artist Sterling Ruby, designer Peter Muller, photographer Willie Vanderpere, Florist Mark Collier and others.
Raf Simons now
"Now the fashion has become a systematic horror. She acquired the technical structure of production, which makes it extremely difficult. I start losing interest, "the Belgian fashion designer is recognized.
Increasingly, Raf Simons thinks over to leave the world of fashion and live secluded in the Belgian farm in scenic places.