Raf Simons joins Prada as co-creative director alongside Miuccia Prada, as confirmed by the luxury brand on social media.

Here’s a retrospective of Raf Simons’ past work and notable collaborations. 

If you’ve been keeping up to date with the latest in the fashion world, this news may come as no surprise: Raf Simons’ move to Prada had been widely speculated in the past few months. Simons is arguably one of the most iconic designers in the industry right now, with many of his pieces often selling out and fetching high prices in the secondary market.

We take a look at a few of his previous collaborations to better understand his aesthetic and the direction he may take Prada in this new phase of his career.

Raf Simons and Calvin Klein

From 2016 to 2018, Simons designed for Calvin Klein and formed the label Calvin Klein 205W39NYC. In his two years there, Simons put out collections that were heavily inspired by American culture and society, putting his own twist on things such as fireman gear, cowboy boots, and Wall Street suits. His work at Calvin Klein received critical acclaim from many in the fashion industry. In 2017,  he earned the menswear and womenswear Designer of the Year award from the CFDA.

Raf Simons and Eastpak

Simons has been a long time collaborator of bag manufacturer Eastpak, with the most recent collection being their tenth. Each of Simons’ collections with Eastpak was related to his own collections that he produced for his namesake brand, thus giving each collection a central theme and message. Over the years, Eastpak has become synonymous with Simons, and vice versa.

Raf Simons and Dior

From 2012 to 2015, Raf Simons joined Dior as its creative director. Over the 20 collections that he dreamt up for the fashion house, he would focus on details such as sharp tailoring, the use of vibrant colors and unique silhouettes. His collections proved to be so successful that he became Google’s top trending fashion designer in 2015 after he left Dior in the same year.

Raf Simons and Adidas 

Perhaps Raf Simons’ most recognizable and popular collaboration is his work with Adidas. Since 2013, his take on footwear with the sportswear giant has been beloved by many. Models such as the Ozweego (more about the shoe here) and his take on the Stan Smith, which he had updated with a perforated “R” logo, were instant hits and are still popular to this day. The footwear was quickly spotted at fashion weeks all over the world and on social media, further cementing its place in people’s wardrobes.

Are you a fan of Raf Simons? Let us know in the comments below.

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