 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement .(September 2022) |
Simon Spurr | |
|---|---|
 Spurr in 2011 | |
| Born | July 8, 1974 Kent, England |
| Education | Middlesex University |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Simon James Spurr (born July 8, 1974) is a British fashion designer based in New York City. He is the creative director and designer of shoe label March NYC. [1] [2]
Simon Spurr was born and raised in Kent, England, the son of two bankers. His father's style shaped his design perspectives at an early age, as Spurr discussed in a 2011 interview: [3]
I still look up to him... he's also very influential in my aesthetics. My dad had a lot of suits working in a bank, late '60s, early '70s. They still had the slim lapel, the narrow shoulder. And I guess it was subconsciously ingrained in me. That's the decade I always go back to.
Spurr went on to study Men’s Fashion Design at Middlesex University and graduated in 1996. [4]
Upon graduation Spurr was hired to design menswear for Yves Saint Laurent, working under Hedi Slimane. He recounted working with Slimane in a 2010 interview: “One of the strongest memories I remember from working with Hedi, was him telling us to throw away the ‘trend books’ that are often used as guidance for younger designers. Set vision, don’t follow trend.” [4] This left a lasting influence on the designer's approach to design: "I appreciate, I look, I listen, but on the whole I completely disengage from the rest of what's going on in fashion. I have a feeling, an emotion, that comes out in the form of clothes." [5]
From YSL, Spurr was recruited by Calvin Klein in 2001 to be the head menswear designer, based in New York City. In 2003, he was named Design Director for Polo Ralph Lauren's Purple Label and Black Label ranges. During his tenure at Ralph Lauren, Spurr made the decision to start his own company; "I needed to make the choice between putting my feet under the table and enjoying the financial rewards associated with foreseeable promotion [at Ralph Lauren], or take an educated gamble and try to create something that would allow me to have freedom down the road for a family. It felt like my last chance to get out of the corporate world." [3]
Spurr launched his menswear line, SPURR, in 2006 with American-made selvedge denim jeans. The line was immediately picked up by Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. In 2007, the line expanded to include sportswear, suiting, and accessories, establishing a full lifestyle brand. In 2009, the brand broadened even further with the creation of SIMON SPURR, a designer collection made entirely in Italy. [6] Spurr described the clientele he designs for in a 2011 interview: “I design for a man that has awareness of life, culture, proportion and design. A diverse man that understands quality but also has a strong idea of his own sensibility.” [4] After several well received presentations, [7] [8] Spurr held his first fashion show during New York’s Fall ’10 Fashion Week, in February 2010. [5] Following the success of the shows and critical acclaim, Spurr was named creative consultant for the Tommy Hilfiger men's runway collection in November 2010. [9]
Spurr has been touted for revitalizing the men's three-piece suit which includes his signature eight-button vest. [10] He explained his thoughts on this in a 2011 interview: "Because [the vest] has this corset-like feel, it gives you better posture and you really feel you’re wearing something tailor-made and handcrafted." This aesthetic is inspired by a variety of influences, one specifically not straying far from his British roots;
"Tommy Nutter was an avant-garde tailor on Britain's Savile Row in the 60's /70's. He took the conventional notion of a bespoke 3 piece suit and turned it on its head using bold scales and mixing patterns. For me it [is] more about the notion of altering one's perception of the stereotypical image of the suit... The menswear that I make at SIMON SPURR is modern, elegant and yet carries a fresh spirit. I am bringing a very English look to New York Fashion week with a strong blend of style, functionality and also wearability. Ultimately, I think it’s my British roots that allows SIMON SPURR to stand alone in the American market." [11]
Spurr's label was embraced by celebrities, many of whom wore his suits as he discussed in a November 2011 interview: "Simon Spurr [the brand], has hit its stride, so to speak. I think it’s really starting to resonate with the public. It’s always done well inside the world of fashion, but I think that the exceptional number of celebrity dressing we've done over the past year has really helped spread the word. There’s a whole new wave of American actors who are finding a new wave of American designers, and I happen to be one of them who does red carpet suiting quite well." [12]
In January 2012, Spurr merged his two lines, SPURR and SIMON SPURR, to create a more expansive collection under the SIMON SPURR moniker. [13] In March 2012, Spurr received a nomination for best menswear designer of the year from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, but abruptly announced that he was departing from his eponymous label just two days later. [14] The New York Times attributed the split between Spurr and the investors that financed the label to a desire by the investors to make the label more commercial and less exclusive, something that the SPURR diffusion line hadn't been able to achieve. [14]
He is the creative director and designer of shoe label March NYC. [1] [2]
Thomas Carlyle Ford is an American fashion designer and filmmaker. He launched his eponymous brand in 2005, having previously been the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford wrote and directed the films A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016). From 2019 to 2022 he was chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Thomas Jacob Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and the founder of Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.
John Varvatos is an American menswear designer. He has worked for Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, and started his own label in 1999.
Hedi Slimane is a French photographer and couturier. From 2000 to 2007, he was creative director for Dior Homme. From 2012 to 2016, he was the creative director for Yves Saint Laurent. Since February 2018, Slimane has been the creative, artistic and image director of Celine.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), founded in 1962 by publicist Eleanor Lambert, and headquartered in Manhattan, is a not-for-profit trade association comprising a membership of over 450 American fashion and accessory designers. The organization promotes American designers in the global economy.
Tim Hamilton is an American fashion designer known for minimalist sportswear. He launched his own menswear label in 2006. He is a three time CFDA nominee, and the winner of the 2009 CFDA/Swarovski Award for Menswear.
Thom Browne is an American fashion designer. He is the founder and head of design for Thom Browne, a luxury fashion brand based in New York City. Browne debuted his womenswear collection in 2014.
Peter Som is a Chinese American fashion designer. He was creative director for Bill Blass and creative consultant for Tommy Hilfiger, where he designed the women’s wear collection, prior to founding his eponymous label. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Peter Som graduated from Connecticut College in 1993 with a degree in art history. He continued his studies at the Parsons School of Design where he apprenticed with American designers, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. At Parsons, his talent was recognized through competitions; he won and was presented with the Parsons Gold Thimble Award by Isaac Mizrahi.
Robert Geller is a German-born American fashion designer.
Michael Bastian, is an American fashion designer known for his work at Brooks Brothers, GANT, and his eponymous brand. He was the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year in 2011. As of December 2020, Bastian is the creative director of Brooks Brothers.
Patrik Ervell is an American-born menswear designer based in New York City. Ervell is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley where he studied political science, economics and art history.
Billy Reid is an American fashion designer based in Florence, Alabama. His line includes menswear, womenswear, accessories and eyewear. His clothing, self-described as "lived-in luxury" and "broken-in luxury", is known for its unusual accents and Southern influence. Reid summarizes his brand's concept as "American luxury built to last". Billy Reid, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, and Michael Kors are the only fashion designers who have won 3 or more CFDA Awards.
Alexandre Plokhov is a Russian-born American clothing designer. He designed for Cloak, Gianni Versace Uomo, Alexandre Plokhov, Helmut Lang and Nomenklatura Studio labels.
John Varvatos is an international American luxury men's lifestyle brand founded by John Varvatos, that designs, manufactures, and retails high-end fashion, using rock aesthetics as the foundation of the brand's designs. The fashion collection is distributed in 10 freestanding John Varvatos boutiques across the US, as well as in high-end department stores throughout the world. The John Varvatos Headquarters are located in New York City.
Timo Weiland is a fashion line for men and women designed by Tim Weiland, Donna Kang and Alan Eckstein. Based in the Garment District of New York City, Timo Weiland started as a neckwear collection and evolved into a full-range womenswear and menswear designer clothing line.
Todd Snyder is an American fashion designer based in New York City. He founded his eponymous fashion label in 2011, and has been called "the most influential menswear designer of his generation" by GQ. The brand was acquired by American Eagle Outfitters in 2015, and reports over $100 million in annual sales revenue. Todd Snyder is also the Creative Director of American heritage brand Woolrich's Black Label Collection.
Martyn Bal is a Dutch fashion designer. He has worked with Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme, Donatella Versace, Christopher Bailey at Burberry and Roberto Cavalli, and collaborated among many others, with Moncler, Edward Enninful, Cutler and Gross and Marc Quinn.
The Row is an American luxury fashion label established by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in 2006. The Row produces ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, handbags and accessories. The label is based in New York City and is available in 37 countries.
Hood By Air is a fashion and streetwear brand based in New York City co-founded by designers Shayne Oliver and Raul Lopez. It was launched in 2006 and took a hiatus 2017–2019. Oliver left the brand in 2023.
Willy Chavarria is an American fashion designer born in Fresno, California. He is the founder of his eponymous label, and is the current Senior Vice President of Design at Calvin Klein.
