The ad is in the image of his creations: all in minimalism.
"The spring-summer 2023 collection marks the conclusion of an extraordinary 27-year journey and the last season of the fashion brand Raf Simons": it is through these few lines published in an Instagram post on Monday November 21 that the 54-year-old Belgian designer has announced that he is ending his eponymous label, dedicated to men's clothing.
On this account, followed by 1.1 million followers, all other posts have been deleted.
The Antwerp designer thanks his team, his collaborators, as well as his “fans”.
That will be all: the team has made it known that this post will be the only official communication from the brand.
A new chapter?
An enigmatic communication, and speculations that are going well.
In particular on the future of the Belgian designer within the Prada label, of which he has been artistic director since April 2020 alongside Miuccia Prada, high priestess of Italian fashion who has completely reinvented and shaken up the image of the bourgeois at home. dawn of the year 2000. If it is indeed a question of an egalitarian sharing of power between these two big established names in fashion, the organization is unprecedented.
And the announcement now revives rumors of a possible withdrawal of the 73-year-old designer, of which Raf Simons would be the potential successor.
Before Prada, Raf Simons collaborated with Jil Sander, Dior - following the departure of John Galliano - then Calvin Klein.
During his three years as artistic director of the French house, from 2012 to 2015, the Belgian designer had signed up to six collections a year.
A heavy pace that had gotten the better of his motivation.
“I had all the technical means to succeed, but I needed more time between collections to find inspiration, he later admitted.
I'm not the type to like to do things quickly, ideas need to mature.
The reasons, perhaps, for this new decision.