RAF SIMONS CLOSES NAMESAKE LABEL AFTER 27 YEARS

Belgian designer Raf Simons is shutting down his namesake brand after 27 years.

In an Instagram post, he shared that his brand’s spring/ summer 2023 collection will be its very last.

“I lack the words to share how proud I am of all that 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.”

The Raf Simons label has been influential in menswear. It is credited with the popularisation of the late nineties slimfitting suit. Simons’ graphic-heavy collections were also pivotal for blurring the boundaries between streetwear and high-end clothing.

For his final show, Simons has invited more than 1,000 guests to Printworks, a clubbing venue in south-east London.

Simons will continue working as the co-creative director of Prada, a role he has held since 2020. He has previously held roles at Calvin Klein, Dior and Jil Sander.