Raf Simons Announced He will be Closing his Label after Releasing his Latest Collection

At the end of November, designer Raf Simons announced that he will be closing his brand after 27 years with his latest Spring/Summer 2023 collection being his last. He stated on the brand’s Instagram, “I lack the words to share how proud I am of all we have achieved. I am grateful for the incredible support from my team, from my collaborators, from the press and buyers, from my friends and family, and from our devoted fans and loyal followers,” he wrote. “Thank you all, for believing in our vision and for believing in me.” Simons will be continuing his position at Prada as the co-creative director. Though a particular reason was not stated, there has been speculation that the brand was under financial troubles, so he could focus solely on Prada or even due to his mental health. 

Courtesy of The Cut

Whatever the case may be, the impact that the Raf Simons brand and the designer himself has had on the fashion industry should not be understated. He launched his own label in 1995, a time of expressive and unique fashion trends in Antwerp. He had gained respect and acclaim within the fashion industry with not only his own label but within other labels as well. In addition to his own brand, he has also been the creative director of Dior, Calvin Klein and Jil Sander. His work with Calvin Klein earned him the Menswear and Womenswear Designer of the Year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2017.

Courtesy of Vogue

His collections often take inspiration from street style and men’s tailoring with oversized silhouettes and graphics printed on his garments. In his runway shows, his styling is very layered and mimics street style trends of the time. He clearly has fun with fashion and styling with his work. He is willing to take risks and think outside the box to stand out. In an industry that is dominated by trends, it is important for any designer to create their own original spin on different garments and outfits. Additionally, menswear can often feel repetitive in its designs and Simons has been able to take menswear and make it more experimental and unique. 

Courtesy of CNN Style

When talking to Vogue, model and actor Luka Sabbat described Simons, “Raf Simons has been able to capture the essence of youth, and so many different niche subcultures and bring them to light without over saturating them or making them uncool,” he said. “But in fact bringing more eyes to them and having people gain interest in things that they might have not discovered if it wasn’t for him incorporating graphic designers and artists that typically wouldn’t be working on clothing such as Peter Saville or Peter De Potter.” With his designs, Simons has been able to display the aspects of youth culture and trends without overstepping or being seen as uncool. 

Courtesy of GQ

It is hard to imagine the fashion industry without the Raf Simons brand. He has made himself one of the most influential designers over the past decade. With his oversized silhouettes, tailoring and use of graphic designs, he has continued his relevance since his start in the 90s reaching multiple generations of young people with his clothing. He has cemented himself as a respected designer within the fashion industry that sets himself apart from other designers. Despite the Raf Simons brand being closed, he is not completely gone from the fashion industry; He will continue designing and impacting it just through other means. He could even reopen his brand if he wishes. Whatever he does, the fashion industry will continue to take inspiration from his designs and impact on youth culture.