Raf Simons
Co-creative director of Prada
Raf Simons is a Belgian designer who has been co-creative director of Prada alongside Miuccia Prada since April 2020. Over three decades he has influenced menswear through his own label and led Jil Sander, Christian Dior and Calvin Klein, becoming one of the most respected designers of his generation.
| Role | Co-creative director of Prada |
|---|---|
| Since | April 2020 |
| Own label | 1995 to 2022 |
| Previous roles | Jil Sander, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Born | 1968 |
Who is Raf Simons?
Raf Simons is a Belgian fashion designer born in Neerpelt in 1968, originally trained in industrial and furniture design. In February 2020 Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli announced him as co-creative director of Prada, a role he began in April 2020 and in which he shares equal creative responsibility with Miuccia Prada.
Career
Simons launched his menswear label in 1995, drawing on youth culture, music and art. The label became a reference for slim tailoring and subcultural references in menswear. He closed it in 2022 after 27 years, with a final spring and summer 2023 collection shown in London.
Alongside his own brand he held a series of senior roles at major houses. He taught fashion at the University of Applied Arts Vienna from 2000 to 2005.
- 2005 to 2012: creative director of Jil Sander
- 2012 to 2015: artistic director of womenswear at Christian Dior
- 2016 to 2018: chief creative officer of Calvin Klein
- Since April 2020: co-creative director of Prada
In 2017 he was named Designer of the Year by both the Council of Fashion Designers of America, for his Calvin Klein work, and the British Fashion Council.
Influence on the fashion business
Simons is often described as a designer's designer. His minimalist work at Jil Sander, his modern approach to couture at Dior and his attempt to reposition Calvin Klein around a single creative vision across all lines all became widely studied case studies. The Calvin Klein period, in particular, illustrated the tension between a strong creative concept and the needs of a large, licence driven American business.
The Prada arrangement introduced a rare model in luxury: two creative directors with equal standing, one of them the owner. It has been seen as a way of building creative continuity at a family controlled group while bringing in a distinct perspective, and it has coincided with a period of strong attention for the brand.
Why it matters
Simons' career maps many of the forces shaping the fashion business since the 1990s: the rise of independent menswear, the professionalisation of creative leadership at large groups and the search for new governance models for creativity. For brands and their partners, the Prada co-creative director structure offers an example of how succession and collaboration can be designed rather than left to a single appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Raf Simons?
Raf Simons is a Belgian fashion designer who has been co-creative director of Prada with Miuccia Prada since April 2020. He previously led Jil Sander, Christian Dior womenswear and Calvin Klein, and ran his own menswear label from 1995 to 2022.
Why did Raf Simons close his label?
Simons announced in 2022 that he was closing his own brand after 27 years, with the spring and summer 2023 collection as the last. He continued his role as co-creative director of Prada.