Raf Simons

Born in Belgium in 1968, Simons studied industrial design in Genk. Inspired by

the work of designers such as Martin Margiela, he moved to Antwerp, where

the head of the Fashion Department at the city’s Royal Academy encouraged

him to start his own label without further study. Launched in 1995, Raf Simons

menswear – informed both by classic tailoring and youth culture – had a huge

impact on the style of the decade.

In 2005 Simons became artistic director of the Jil Sander label, which under

his tenure became known for its vital, sophisticated modernism. In 2012 he

was named creative director of Dior Women, a position that he held until

late in 2015. During his time as Chief Creative Officer of American fashion

label Calvin Klein from 2016 to 2018, he has been awarded Designer of the

Year 2017 for both his Menswear and Womenswear collections and for his

Womenswear collection in 2018. In April 2020, Raf Simons joined the Prada

brand as Co-Creative Director, working in partnership with Miuccia Prada.

A passionate collector of contemporary art and modern design, Simons’

aesthetic is often informed by his admiration for art and he regularly

engages in interdisciplinary collaborations.