Raf Simons shutters his own label, after 27 years of independence

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Nov 21, 2022

Raf Simons has shuttered his own label, announcing the closure of his label via Instagram on Monday evening after 27 years of independence.

 
The news comes just four weeks after an October 14 show Simons staged, what is now his final signature catwalk event for his brand in London during the recent Frieze art season.
 
“The Spring/Summer 2023 collection is the conclusion of an extraordinary journey and the final season of the Raf Simons fashion brand,” Simons said on Instagram.

“I lack the words to say 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,” Simons said in a post entitled Memory Wear 1995 Station to Station Alda & Jacques. 
 
The news has already started sparking speculation on social media that the 54-year-old Simons will take over full time from the 73-year-old Miuccia Prada, with whom he has been joint creative director of Prada since April 2020.
 
The pair staged their most recent joint collection in Milan in September during the Italian runway season.
 
“Thank you all, for believing in our vision and for believing in me. Forward always, Raf,” the Belgian designer’s statement concluded.
 
Marking the latest stage in a blistering career that began with agit-prop shows in garages around the Bastille in the mid nineties, and included stints as the creative director of such other illustrious houses as Jil Sander, Christian Dior and Calvin Klein.