Raf Simons

He started out alongside Walter Van Bereindonck, cut his teeth at Calvin Klein and Jil Sander, and designed Christian Dior's women's collections for nearly four years. Raf Simons is a fashion designer recognised among his peers. Though he now contributes to the Prada aesthetic, hand in hand with Miuccia Prada, Raf Simons has also made his mark on the fashion landscape through his eponymous brand. Launched in 1995, the Raf Simons label is driven by a captivating clash of genres and values. Enfant terrible and rebellious teen, he was inspired by the looks he saw out partying at raves and created his collections in an artisanal way, with flawless precision and verve. Today, the designer remains devoted this idea of intrepid and carefree youth. An adoring fan of the new generation, he doesn't hesitate to honour them in his shows: in 2021, the messages "Solar Youth" and "Children of the Revolution" were emblazoned on pieces in his collections, while his ad campaigns immortalise young people hugging, kissing, and gazing intently into each other eyes. And the feeling is mutual: this younger generation has embraced his graphic, unstructured, minimalist clothing and admire his sense of style. With a skilful blend of independence and spontaneity, Raf Simons' creations unite and cross generations. Not only is Raf Simons' clothing highly acclaimed, so are the designer's shoes. After being invited by Adidas to reinvent two of its flagship sneakers a few years ago, Simons went on to produce some of the three-stripe brand's most iconic shoes. The Ozweegos he designed took social media's sneakerheads by storm with their originality, bubbles and metallic soles. Since then, despite the collaboration coming to an end, the sneakers he designs for his own eponymous brand are also a runaway success. The quirky Antei and Solaris are coveted by fashion enthusiasts, while the Cylons appeal to sneakerheads, and the Orions to everyone else.