Raf Simons’s menswear has earned the Belgian designer a reputation as a revolutionary in the fashion world. The New York Times’ Cathy Horyn said in 2005, “Simons is probably the most influential menswear designer of the last decade.” His clothes look simultaneously deconstructed and impeccably tailored, and his skinny-suit predilections have helped alter the sartorial landscape since he started out in the nineties. He tends to use “regular” boys rather than professional models—another example of his policy “to avoid the trappings of the fashion system.” In 2000, Simons took a one-year hiatus to reconfigure the business end of his company by cutting down the number of people on his team. Although the label is best known in avant-garde (and rich) circles, the designer sought to expand his clientele in 2005, when he launched his lower-priced line, Raf by Raf Simons. His fan base expanded exponentially that same year when he was tapped to be Jil Sander’s new creative director.

Status

Established

Clients

Kanye West, Ellen DeGeneres

Other Product Lines

Shoes

Collaborations

12-style collection with Fred Perry (2008), Line of Bags for Eastpack (2007), Raf Simons for Dr. Martens (2009)

Owned By

Raf Simons

Address

32 /34 Rosier
Antwerp, B2000, Belgium
32-3-233-1123

Where To Buy

Barneys New York, Seven New York, BBlessing

Related Websites

• Raf Simons (Official)
• Raf by Raf Simons (Official)
• Wikipedia: Raf Simons (Other)
• Men Style.com: Raf Simons (Media)