Raf Simons
The Belgian-born designer actually began his creative endeavors in the furniture industry! It wasn't until Paris Fashion Week 1991 that he decided to flip to fashion after being influenced by Martin Margiela's famous all-white show (and we're glad he did).
Simons launched his own label in 1995, which would frequently find inspiration in disparate subcultures, from MENSA students to punk rock music. His impressive edge and attention to form landed him the position of creative director at Jil Sander from 2005 to 2012, when the brand's namesake returned to take the lead. However, Simons was hardly left in the dust, garnering the top spot at Dior after John Galliano was notoriously dismissed.
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