The Judges Awards

09.3 Raf Simons A/W10, by Raf Simons

Raf Simons approaches fashion in much the same way an engineer sets out to solve a building challenge. For this offering, he did away with traditional buttons and zips and instead enlisted tools from active wear. He used silver snaps to fasten navy double-breasted suits and large swathes of Velcro to gather two-button jackets at the waist. Both closures gave the suits an energy and modernism that is synonymous with Simons' aesthetic. Then it was on to more experimental fare: a coat could be deconstructed into a series of separates, such as a shrug, a belted bodice, even a skirt. While not all his ideas will live off the runway, Simons always stretches the boundaries of menswear.

Creative director: Raf Simons

Joined brand: 1995

Based: Antwerp

Key features: An avant-garde collection featuring suits with original fastenings, oversized outerwear and coats that can be deconstructed into a series of separate pieces

Categories