River Woods
River Woods
River Woods is an international and authentic lifestyle brand for the whole family, reflecting strong values as friendship, family values and the sheer joy of living!
River Woods’ origins lie in a bygone era, the North-Eastern American lifestyle served as a source of inspiration for the creation of the brand. Translated into a commercial and contemporary collection, River Woods since then evolved into a brand offering casual and city collections for the whole family. Men, women, boys, girls and even babies and newborns, the whole family can dress in River Woods.
The key factors of the growth and succes of the brand are a strict adherance to quality and a keen and exclusive distribution strategy. Through high-level multibrand stores and the well-known River Woods Company Stores, River Woods has put itself on the map.
The origins: An inspiring era
The wind blows through the lush crowns of the majestic oak trees of North Eastern America. This is the era of true friendship and strong values. This is the era of the origins of River Woods: authentic sportswear which embraces family, solidarity and the shear joy of living, and reflects the spirit of the true North-Eastern American lifestyle.
The beginning: Birth of River Woods
It was the 6th of December 1995 when four friends signed for the realisation of a mutual dream: their own fashion brand. By combining their years of experience and knowledge in the fashion sector, River Woods was born.
From Belgium to…: First menswear collection
On the 6th of January 1996 the trading began with the introduction of a Menswear Collection. Thanks to its strict adherence to quality and the perfect translation of the authentic American sportswear to the European market, it was an immediate hit. In fact, the brand began with an exponential growth in Belgium, The Netherlands and France.
New launches: Introduction of Women’s and Kids collections
The success of the Menswear Collection quickly lead to the introduction of a complete range of clothing for Women and Kids. River Woods became a brand for the whole family.
First Flagship store: Creation of River Woods Baby
Following the successful debut of the Women & Kids collections, in 2000 the River Woods Baby subdivision was created. This year the first River Woods Flagship store opened in Wijnegem Shopping Center, near Antwerp. River Woods continues its expansion through new partnerships throughout Europe …
Manufacturers & Distributors: The story of our success
As of 2001 a rapid expansion of the brand throughout Europe is established with a keen distribution policy. Focusing on high-end multilabel stores and the by now well known exclusive River Woods Company Stores has proven to be a recipe for succes.
New agreements: Footwear and River Woods stationary collection
In 2005 the license agreements for a River Woods Footwear collection and a River Woods school stationary collection are made.
Global Expansion: River Woods’ network
By now, River Woods has established a solid distribution network throughout Europe, and is ever strengthening its worldwide position by expanding its network outside Europe. It is now present in 22 Countries in the World : Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and USA.
First RW Kids Store: New Opening
On the 23rd of January 2011, River Woods opens its first dedicated RW Kids store, at Wijnegem Shopping Center near Antwerp.
RW Casual Chic: New Opening
On the 29th of July 2011, a second River Woods Casual Chic store opens its doors in Knokke, Belgium. It offers exclusively the contemporary River Woods Ladies’ collection, and is an immediate hit.
Raf Simons
Raf SimonsBORN NEERPELT, BELGIUM IN 1968.
GRADUATES IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AND FURNITURE DESIGN IN 1991 AND STARTS WORKING AS A FURNITURE DESIGNER FOR GALLERIES AND PRIVATE INTERIORS. BEFORE THIS, RAF SIMONS INTERNED AT THE DESIGN STUDIO OF WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK, WORKING ON THE PRESENTATION AND DECORATION OF THE VAN BEIRENDONCK SHOWROOMS AND COLLECTIONS.
IN A RADICAL CHANGE OF PROFESSION, HEREBY ENCOURAGED BY LINDA LOPPA, HEAD OF THE FASHION DEPARTMENT OF THE ANTWERP ROYAL ACADEMY, HE BECOMES A SELF-TRAINED MENSWEAR DESIGNER IN 1995 AND LAUNCHES HIS RAF SIMONS LABEL.
DESIGNS THE MENSWEAR OUTFITS FOR RUFFO RESEARCH (SPRING-SUMMER 1999 AND AUTUMN-WINTER 1999-2000).
OCTOBER 2000, RAF SIMONS IS APPOINTED HEAD PROFESSOR OF THE FASHION DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED ARTS, VIENNA, AUSTRIA UNTIL JUNE 2005.
WINS FIRST PRIZE SWISS TEXTILES AWARD, LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND IN NOVEMBER 2003.
PRESENTS ‘RAF SIMONS REDUX’, A BOOK BY PETER DE POTTER AND RAF SIMONS (PUBLISHED BY CHARTA/FONDAZIONE PITTI DISCOVERY) COINCIDING WITH HIS LABEL’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY. ‘RAF SIMONS 1995-2005’, A FASHION/ART EVENT AT THE GIARDINI DI BOBOLI IN FLORENCE, ITALY (INITIATED AND PRODUCED BY THE FONDAZIONE PITTI DISCOVERY, JUNE 2005) EQUALLY CELEBRATES HIS FIRST DECADE IN FASHION.
NAMED CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF JIL SANDER (MENSWEAR AND WOMENSWEAR) FROM JULY 2005 UNTIL FEBRUARY 2012.
APRIL 2011, RAF SIMONS IS PRESIDENT OF THE FASHION JURY OF THE HYÈRES 26TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
CURATES TRANSMISSION 1, A THREE-DAY MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVENT IN BERLIN INITIATED AND SPONSORED BY MERCEDES-BENZ IN JULY 2011.
APRIL 2012 – NOMINATED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN DIOR FOR WOMEN’S HAUTE COUTURE, READY-TO-WEAR AND ACCESSORY COLLECTIONS. RAF SIMONS PRESENTS HIS FIRST HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION IN JULY 2012.
LIVES AND WORKS IN ANTWERP, BELGIUM.
The most important message Raf Simons wants to communicate is:
PRIDE IN INDIVIDUALITY.
Fuelled by his love for both rebellious youth cultures and traditional menswear, he emerges in fashion halfway through the nineties, presenting a radically different image of masculinity. Fusing the energy and singularity of teenage subcultures with the sharpness and precision of classical sartorial craft, the look presented by Raf Simons is both inspired by and designed for confident outsiders.
From the first collection on, music, art, performance, images and words have a substantial role in the whole package, summing up, or rather clarifying the kind of world Raf Simons wants to project. Always at the core of his universe (and as essential as the clothes themselves) are attitudes, moods and statements about individuality and independence.
Equally important in Raf Simons’ approach is the constant quest for innovation. The designs are always looking for the now and tomorrow, even if they are inspired by historical or classical references. Throughout the years, with the signature style evolving and maturing, the key elements stay the same: modern proportions, a constant research for fabrics and textures and above all the interplay of pure construction and new shapes with the body and psyche of the contemporary man.