It is hard to imagine the world of high-end fashion without Raf Simons. Using his eponymous label, Raf Simons has gathered fans like A$AP Rocky, Kanye West and more. Simons work with Christian Dior, Calvin Klein and Jil Sander have ensured that his legacy will be remembered. When rumours began circulating late last year that Simons would be moving to Prada, the fashion industry began to listen. Now, after months of speculation, the news has officially been confirmed.
In a statement released by Prada on Sunday, the Italian fashion behemoth unveiled that Raf Simons would join Miuccia Prada as a Co-Creative Director from April 2, 2020. The news has since sent shockwaves throughout the entire fashion industry. Miuccia Prada, the heiress and driving force behind Prada’s commercial success, has long designed both its menswear and womenswear collections.
This latest venture between Prada and Raf Simons is well-needed. In a time where Virgil Abloh and Kim Jones have reigned supreme, the combination of two of the most successful designers under one house will no doubt drive high sales and desire. In a statement from the house itself, Prada explained that:
” This partnership, encompassing all creative facets of the Prada label, is born from a deep reciprocal respect and from an open conversation – it is a mutual decision, proposed and determined by both parties. It opens a new dialogue, between designers widely acknowledged as two of the most important and influential of today.”
If you are waiting to see what the first collection between the two looks like, you’ll have to be patient. The first Prada collection designed by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons will be the Spring/Summer 2021 womenswear show, presented in Milan in September 2020.
