Raf Simons designs for Kvadrat to be unveiled in London

In fact, Simons originally trained as an industrial and furniture designer, but shifted across to fashion in his 20s; “I wanted to be active in an environment that was way more social, more dynamic and with more speed. I was young,” he explained to The Business of Fashion. 

The first time Simons used Kvadrat’s fabrics was for a fashion show back when he was creative director of Milan-based fashion label Jil Sander. For that collection, Simons picked out over 75 patches of Kvadrat furnishings fabrics which he wove into coats. 

He has, of course, since gone on to a new role at Christian Dior where he is creative director of the women’s collections, but that hasn’t stopped him from plenty of fun collaborations. Simons recently worked with his friend the artist Sterling Ruby on a menswear collection, which was shown in Paris last month, and has also worked with Adidas and Fred Perry on clothing and footwear capsules.  

For Kvadrat, Simons has reworked versions of bouclés and tweeds (made sturdy and wearable enough for furniture) and packed the fabrics with plenty of his signature hot colors.