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Raf Simons
In just two decades, the Belgian designer Raf Simons has headed four of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses, transformed the silhouette of men’s fashion, and reimagined the way street style and fine art can influence design. Restless and yet fully-actualized in his aesthetic from the start, Simons continually manages to surprise while reasserting his sharp, fearless vision.
Simons studied industrial and furniture design in Genk, but an internship at Walter Van Beirendonck set the stage for his life in fashion. In 1995, he founded his own menswear label, specializing in razor-thin suiting. By the turn of the century, men around the world had tightened up their apparel. Two months before 9/11, Simons showed a controversial collection accessorized by face-coverings and lit flares. Four years later, he introduced sex appeal to minimalism as head of men’s and womenswear for Jil Sander. In 2012, Dior came calling; in response, he provided edgy takes on smoking suits and pastel couture as creative director. Simons shocked the industry by resigning in 2016, launching a collection under his own name that applied Robert Mapplethorpe’s homoerotic photography to streetwear, then joining Americana icon Calvin Klein as chief creative officer. His kitsch collaborations with Sterling Ruby and taxicab-yellow makeover of John Pawson’s minimalist temple of a Madison Avenue flagship attracted major attention, but after two years Simons moved on again.
In 2014, Simons initiated an ongoing collaboration with Kvadrat, utilizing the Danish master’s innovative textiles in a Calvin Klein collection. The apparel was such a success that the pair decided to bring the fabrics home, for a series of textile collections marrying Simon’s severe wit and Kvadrat’s peerless fabrications. Meanwhile, the catwalk came calling again: in April 2020, Simons joined Prada in the role of co-creative director.
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by Frans Dikmeijer
for Kvadrat
Kvadrat Colline 2 Fabric
![Kvadrat Field2 1](https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-field-2-fabric/Kvadrat_Field2_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=1389&s=0e202ad1c188128698240838b43f4f92 1389w, https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-field-2-fabric/Kvadrat_Field2_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=1000&s=609df50390fa55c46fb1de07a7b9b66a 1000w, https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-field-2-fabric/Kvadrat_Field2_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=600&s=f2f47c01c4e14b20975c82c776d4b54c 600w, https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-field-2-fabric/Kvadrat_Field2_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=300&s=005e0f63885241e0556fae323775b38a 300w)
by Alfredo Haberli
for Kvadrat
Kvadrat Field 2 Fabric
![Kvadrat Vanir Raf Simons](https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-vanir-fabric/Kvadrat-Vadir-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=1389&s=7c698b925e105a05e888a0f3107b87e4 1389w, https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-vanir-fabric/Kvadrat-Vadir-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=1000&s=3c0ca744410263a64f80df7739132a1d 1000w, https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-vanir-fabric/Kvadrat-Vadir-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=600&s=a78f0382b3b95244054fc39f73c6bc67 600w, https://context-gallery.imgix.net/products/k/kvadrat-vanir-fabric/Kvadrat-Vadir-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=clip&q=60&w=300&s=a96d8021aa6236ecc7ac6b2f9e9749a6 300w)
by Raf Simons
for Kvadrat
Kvadrat Vanir Fabric
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by Raf Simons
for Kvadrat
Kvadrat Helia Fabric
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by Raf Simons
for Kvadrat
Kvadrat Atom Fabric
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by Raf Simons
for Kvadrat