Christopher Raeburn (designer)

Christopher Ræburn (born August 13, 1982) is a British fashion designer and Artistic Director of Victorinox. He utilises re-appropriated military fabrics sourced throughout Europe. All of Ræburn's garments are produced in England.

Christopher Ræburn
Nationality	British
Education	Royal College of Art
Occupation	Designer
Website	www.christopherraeburn.co.uk
Labels	Christopher Ræburn

Early life

Ræburn was born the youngest of three boys in Kent. His upbringing focused on the outdoors and inventing. "We were encouraged to draw something in the week and then challenged to make it with my dad on the weekend. From the age of 11, I was in air cadets, I learnt to fly. I was doing my Duke of Edinburgh. I was doing walks in Holland. I had this love of being prepared".

Career

Ræburn graduated in 2006 from London's Royal College of Art. He freelanced as a pattern cutter before setting up his own studio in 2008, and later his label. Ræburn participated in the 'Camouflage' exhibition at London's Imperial War Museum and featured in Hywel Davies' publication '100 New Designers'. Ræburn ended 2008 with his first collection showcased during London Design Week, a capsule range of reversible garments titled Inverted.

In 2009 Ræburn showcased menswear in Paris, received an award from the International Ethical Fashion Forum, and gained support from Esthetica, allowing him to show at London Fashion Week that September. In 2010, Ræburn was the first designer to be awarded Topshop NEWGEN sponsorship for both men's and women's wear in the same season.

Ræburn has become known for the ethical integrity of his work, although he admits it was never his intention. American Vogue (magazine)'s August 2010 issue highlighted Ræburn's contribution to all things green with the advice to "Remember the four R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Ræburn", accompanied by a Mario Testino shoot of Blake Lively wearing a Ræburn Duffle Coat. After viewing his Autumn/Winter 2011 London Fashion Week presentation at the disused Aldwych tube station, Style.com stated, "it's not unreasonable to assert that Christopher Ræburn is the single most radical designer working today".

In 2010, Ræburn was approached by Victorinox to collaborate with them on a men's and women's wear capsule collection. Victorinox set up a "Remade in Switzerland" studio in Ibach, the birthplace of Victorinox founder Karl Elsener. Not only did Ræburn source the fabrics for his collection there, but he also managed to find the original house in which Elsener started the brand, and it was there that Ræburn chose to establish his Swiss LAB to produce the 100 pieces of each style by hand. The collaboration launched on schedule during New York Fashion Week in February 2011.

In September 2011 Ræburn was nominated and won the 2011 "Emerging Designer" British Fashion Award for menswear, by the British Fashion Council.

Collaborations

In February 2011 Ræburn collaborated with Victorinox to create to the 'Remade in Switzerland' collection. The collection was launched during New York Fashion Week.

In May 2013 'Rapha & Ræburn' launched, a collaboration between cycle-wear company Rapha and Christopher Ræburn, to produce a capsule collection of city-riding garments.

In May 2013 the Ræburn x Victoronix 'Festival Ready' project launched; consisting of an 11-piece collection of practical camping gear and outdoorwear.

In May 2013 Ræburn collaborated with Fred Perry as part of the Fred Perry Blank Canvas project to produce several limited edition polo shirts. This continued a relationship that began with Ræburn transforming the iconic Fred Perry polo shirt into a stuffed hare for Fred Perry's 60th Anniversary.

In June 2014 Ræburn worked with Oki Ni to launch his SS15 collection and in 2015 launched a video campaign showing how vintage materials can be re-created.

External links

• Official website
• Christopher Raeburn on Twitter