Raf Simons

Raf Simons was born and bred in Neerpelt, Belgium. After a degree in industrial design and a short career in furniture design he changed direction and got an internship at Walter van Beirendonk. Before long, and after a visit to Martin Margiela, Raf decided to launch his own brand and clothing line. He had an innovative way of designing and displaying his clothes and soon became successful. In 2000 he became Head Professor in fashion at University of Applied Arts in Vienna. In 2005 he launched his sub line Raf by Raf and was also engaged as Head of Design at Jil Sander, a position he still holds. The designer commutes between Antwerp, where he produces his own men’s wear label, and Milan, where the Jil Sander company in based. His career started out with urban and street influenced collections but throughout the years, without loosing the key elements of his style, his collections has evolved to a more upscale look and with a touch of dressed attitude.