Raf Simons
During this time, Simons congregated at Antwerp cafe Witzli-Poetzli with the likes of Olivier Rizzo, Willy Vanderperre, David Vandewal and then-girlfriend Veronique Branquinho to discuss fashion, namely Helmut Lang and Martin Margiela.
[12] During this time, Simons's international prominence grew with the collection for Spring–Summer 2002 (Woe Onto Those Who Spit On The Fear Generation ...The Wind Will Blow It Back) becoming one of his most influential due to its 'layered, hooded, sinister image of the urban guerrilla'.
Alongside the publication, there was also an exhibition of Simons's work and an outdoor fashion show at the Pitti Immagine Uomo tradeshow in Florence, Italy for a retrospective of the designer's career at the age of 38.
[18] In 2008, two flagship Raf Simons stand-alone stores opened in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, in collaboration with the artists Sterling Ruby and Roger Hiorns.
The Kvadrat/Raf Simons collection received great recognition in the media and is distinguished by the blending of colour and materials for which the designer is known in the fashion world.
[29] In June 2005, Simons was appointed as Creative Director for the Jil Sander label, by its owner the Prada Group (which was later acquired by Change Capital Partners and then GIBO Co. SpA, the Italian subsidiary of Japanese firm Onward Holdings Co. Ltd).
In 2010, 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.
[7] Rumors that Simons was a serious candidate to replace Yves Saint Laurent designer Stefano Pilati surfaced in the press several times—most recently in September 2011.
[30] Later, the press reported that Simons was interviewing for the creative director slot at Christian Dior, which had remained vacant since John Galliano was fired in March 2011.
In a statement, the designer stated "It is a decision based entirely and equally on my desire to focus on other interests in my life, including my own brand, and passions that drive me outside my work."
On August 2, 2016, Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp., announced Simon's appointment as chief creative officer of the brand.
[36] Simons' first collection debuted for the Fall 2017 season, on which the New York Magazine stated that "The Most Anticipated Fashion Show in Decades Turned Out to Be Brilliant".
[42] Between October 2000 and June 2005, Simons taught fashion at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, leaving due to his growing commitments to the Jil Sander brand.
[12] Simons has curated a number of exhibitions including: Guided by Heroes in Hasselt, Belgium and The Fourth Sex in Florence, Italy.
Long-term collaborators include photographer Willy Vanderperre, first assistant/general manager Robbie Sneders, stylist Olivier Rizzo and artist Peter de Potter.
[10] The photography series and book Isolated Heroes was the result of the collaboration with British photographer David Sims in the summer of 1999, which featured models dressed in Raf Simons Spring–Summer 2000.
[46] Simons has been popular with various musicians such as blackbear, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Future, Raekwon, A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert, Big Sean, Drake, and Juice Wrld,[47] who have either referenced him, worn his clothing, or openly admired his work.
