Raf Simons was creative director at Jil Sander, Christian Dior, and Calvin Klein.
17 Facts About Raf Simons
1.
2.
Raf Simons was born on 12 January 1968 in Neerpelt, Belgium, to Jacques Simons, an army night watchman, and Alda Beckers, a house cleaner.
3.
Raf Simons graduated in Industrial Design and Furniture Design from LUCA School of Arts in Genk in 1991.
4.
Raf Simons began working as a furniture designer for various galleries, having previously interned at the design studio of Walter Van Beirendonck between 1991 and 1993.
5.
In 2011, Raf by Raf Simons was replaced by Raf Simons 1995, a diffusion line incorporating elements from Simons's early collections.
6.
On November 21,2022, Raf Simons announced via its Social Media Channels that the SS23 collection would be the last collection from the label before he closes it down after the end of the season.
7.
Since 2008, Raf Simons has created collections in collaboration with British brand Fred Perry.
8.
In 2009, Raf Simons used denim bleached by artist Sterling Ruby to create a capsule collection of denim wear jeans and jackets.
9.
In 2014 Raf Simons began a collaboration with the Danish design and textile company Kvadrat that would translate into a collection of textiles and accessories.
10.
In 2010, Raf Simons's work was seen to take a more fanciful turn when he presented the first of three couture-inspired collections, all of which played with the shapes, colors, and proportions associated with haute couture, and were his most feminine to date.
11.
Later, the press reported that Raf Simons was interviewing for the creative director slot at Christian Dior, which had remained vacant since John Galliano was fired in March 2011.
12.
On October 22,2015, Raf Simons resigned from his post as the Creative Director of Womenswear for Christian Dior following a three and a half year stint at the brand.
13.
Raf Simons oversaw all aspects of Design, Global Marketing and Communications, and Visual Creative Services.
14.
Since 2000, Raf Simons has acted as a consultant for the Cigrang Freres art collection in Belgium.
15.
Raf Simons collects art personally, with his private collection including works by Evan Holloway, Mike Kelley, Sterling Ruby, Cindy Sherman and Brian Calvin.
16.
Between October 2000 and June 2005, Raf Simons taught fashion at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, leaving due to his growing commitments to the Jil Sander brand.
17.
Raf Simons's designs have featured the work of Pablo Picasso and Brian Calvin.