When Raf met Miuccia
What better way to end a buzzing week of shows at Milan Fashion Week than with a bombshell announcement that Belgium designer Raf Simons will be joining Prada. He is the first major design talent outside of Prada family to join since 1913.
This is a sort of partnership dreams are made of and we won’t have to wait long to see what this collaboration will deliver as their first joint collection will be showcased this September. Simons has been the darling of fashion for many years and has made a significant impact during his time at Dior and Calvin Klein as well as his namesake label. However, he struggled with the fast-pace of fashion, so working with Miuccia might help with balancing creativity and the demands of the clients.
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“I think lots of creatives… feel troubled, feel that the fashion industry is moving more and more towards an industry that might end up excluding creatives,” he said during a news conference held at the Italian fashion house’s headquarters. Simons will officially join in April. He and Miuccia will work together “with equal responsibilities for creative input and decision making.”
“We like each other, we respect each other. I was sometimes criticised for not doing collaborations, so now I am doing one,” Miuccia said, to which Simons added: “There’s more strength when two creatives believe in it, than when one believes in it. If we both believe in it, we’re going to do it.“ As for the length of their contract, Prada mused, “In theory, it’s forever.”
The pair have crossed design path previously when Simons was heading up Jil Sander in 2o05, which at the time was part of the Prada group. They share similar interests in arts, cinema, and mixing past and future references.
“I do believe a lot in collaboration,” Simons said. “I think it strengthens the result.”
We can’t wait to see the outcome
Images: Instagram
