Christopher Raeburn (designer)

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. In the same year he was also nominated for the 'Observer Ethical Awards: Fashion Category' and 'Condé Nast Traveller award: design and innovation' prizes, and his 'REMADE IN SWITZERLAND' collaboration with Victorinox is shown on schedule at NYFW.

In 2012, the brand started to widen its stockists list, counting more than 20 stores worldwide, including the prestigious Paris based boutique Colette. In that year CR also launched his first accessories collection, as well as the much awaited first collaboration with Moncler.

The following year, CR's visibility continued to increase, with the designer receiving a sponsorship from Woolmark for SS14 season. 2013 was a big year for Ræburn, who in that year not only won Designer Business of the Year at the UK Fashion and Textiles awards, but also launched two major collaborations, with Rapha and Fred Perry. He ended the year by being announced as artistic director of Victorinox Fashion, as a result of past collaborations.

2014 saw two Woolmark sponsorships for CR, this time towards his aw14 and his SS15 seasons, menswear and womenswear. The designer was once again shortlisted for BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund, and in the same year launched his Barbour collaboration. In the same year, Christopher Ræburn won Menswear Brand of the Year at the UK Fashion and Textiles Awards.

In 2015, CR was shortlisted for the second year for BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund and he was sponsored again by Woolmark for his AW15 collection. He launched two collaborations: one with Wool and The Gang, to create a joint line of knitted accessories, and one with knitwear specialised brand Unmade, to create an interactive bespoke knitwear. In the same year Christopher Ræburn received the award for Best Emerging Designer at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, and later on he launched his first footwear menswear and womenswear joint collections with Clarks.

At the beginning of this year, Ræburn saw his "Layers of Natural Innovation" partnership with The Woolmark company shown at the ICA during London Fashion Week in celebration of the versatility of Merino Wool, before being shortlisted for a third year for the BFC / GQ Designer Menswear Fashion Fund. This year CR also launched an important collaboration with German leather good brand MCM.

Collaborations

In February 2011 Ræburn collaborated with Victorinox to create 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.

In the same year, the designer launched his joint collection with Barbour.

In 2015, CR was Lavazza's partner at LCM, spreading his elliptical shark print across different touch points. Still in 2015 he launched his first footwear collection with Clarks and received a sponsorship from Woolmark for both menswear and womenswear.

In 2016, he launched sustainable "Made to Move" Ready to wear and accessories collection with internationally known brand MCM.