7 1 0 N 2 IO IT D E RAF SIMONS ARCHIVE RAF SIMONS ARCHIVE HISTORY Raf Simons has only recently become more known in the realm of hip- hop style, but his clothes have been influencing streetwear and men's fashion for decades. As his namesake label enjoys 20 years of success this year, there's no better time to trace the evolution of his designs and see how even his earliest work parallels today's trends. LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK... INTO THE ARCHIVE GALLERY www.website.com 2003 FISHTAIL PARKA New Order's Power, Corruption, and Lies In Simons's "Closer" collection for Pleasures on the back. This artwork was fall/winter 2003, he presented fishtail originally created by Peter Saville, a parkas with the iconic album artwork graphic designer known for his work for New Order's Power, Corruption, and with Factory Records, who gave Simons Liesand oy Division's Unknown complete access to his archive. SNEAKER CULTURE Influenced by music, art, and performance, Simons has communicated his love for rebellious youth and tradition not only in his clothing designs, but footwear as well. Initially releasing his first models in the fall season of 2007, Simons has done anything but take his individualistic approach to footwear and transcend it into some of the most recognizable sneakers to date. He used cool, vibrant colors for lifestyle runners. PORTRAIT COLLECTION The designer had collaborated with many artists but one of the most impactful collections he has created so far have been with Robert Mapplethorpe; ?AnAmerican photographer, known for his sensitive yet blunt treatment of controversial subject- matter in the large- scale, highly stylized black and white medium of photography.? The collection showcased hundreds of his pictures. The collection was based on Simon?s obsession with framing. He was able to show cased his collection but more importantly Mapplethrope?s career. STERLING RUBY Simons collaborated with American artist Sterling Rub for a one- season- collection. Simon?s interest in art is well demonstrated in the collection. Two people with different aesthetics shown similarities and share interests in subcultures, music, art which made their collection feel alive and new. The collection was focused on proportion, an oversize feel, finishing off with both their creativities; paint and badges. PATCHES DESIGN Raf Simons have always used the patch designs. It was first appeared in Simons? AW01 collection and have continuously been used ever since. The patch has grown into a symbol of rebellion, protest and youth. The basic idea of patches has become a fashion evolution in modern men?s fashion. INFLUENCE CONCLUSION Raf Simons has influenced the way men dress in high end/streetwear fashion. He threw in youth culture, art, music in men?s wear. His clothes then, and now, express something about the world in which we live. His designs evoke socioeconomic mores, notions of value and wroth, complex codes of masculinity, and youthful rebellion. His influence is shown through generations of designers, his impact isn?t perceived, it?s there. .