Raf Simons announces shock closure of eponymous label

Avant-garde designer Raf Simons has announced the shock closure of his namesake label after 27 years.

Following his graduation from LUCA School of Arts in 1991, the Belgian fashion designer launched his eponymous label in 1995. It took him only two years to produce a show at Paris Fashion Week, shortly becoming the poster child of deconstructed fashion.

Simons, alongside Hedi Slimane, arguably shifted the landscape of '90s fashion. He pioneered androgynous silhouettes during a time when European fashion houses were producing vibrant, maximalist looks, and by the early 2000s, the designer made a name for himself among the fashion greats.

Raf went on to work with some of the world’s biggest fashion houses, including the likes of Jil Sander, Christian Dior, and Calvin Klein.

Closing with a final Spring/Summer 2023 collection, Raf Simons leaves his mark on the fashion world with references to his three-decade-spanning career.

Despite closing his namesake label, this announcement doesn’t mark the end of Raf’s career as a designer and his immeasurable impact on the fashion industry. He has held the position of Co-Creative Director at Prada since 2020 and will continue to do so.

Raf Simons added: “The Spring/Summer 2023 collection is the conclusion of an extraordinary 27-year journey and the final season of the Raf Simons fashion brand.

“I lack the words to share how proud I am of all that we have achieved,” he added. “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.”