Christopher Raeburn (born 13 August 1982), is a British fashion designer who reworks surplus fabrics and garments to create menswear, womenswear and accessories.
Early life Christopher Raeburn was born as the youngest of three boys in Kent.
Career Raeburn graduated from London's Royal College of Art in 2006. He freelanced as a pattern cutter before setting up his own studio in 2008, and later his label.
In 2008, he participated in the 'Camouflage' exhibition at London's Imperial War Museum, and showcased his first collection (reversible garments titled Inverted) during the London Design Week. In 2009, he showcased menswear in Paris and gained support from Esthetica, allowing him to show his work at London Fashion Week that September. In 2010, Raeburn was the first designer to be awarded Topshop Newgen sponsorship for both men's and women's wear in the same season.
In 2010, Raeburn 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 Karl Elsener, the founder of Victorinox. He found the original house where Elsener founded the brand as inspiration for the establishment of his Swiss LAB. In his lab, he produced 100 pieces of each style by hand. The collaboration launched on schedule during New York Fashion Week in February 2011.
In 2011, he was 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 was at NYFW.
In 2012, Raeburn opened more than 20 stores across several countries, including the Paris-based boutique Colette. In the same year Raeburn launched his first accessories collection, as well as his first collaboration with Moncler.
In 2013 Raeburn won Designer Business of the Year at the UK Fashion and Textiles awards and launched collaborations, with Rapha and Fred Perry. He ended the year by being announced as artistic director of Victorinox Fashion.
In 2014, there were two Woolmark sponsorships for Raeburn, this time towards his AW14 and his SS15 seasons, menswear and womenswear. The designer was shortlisted for BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund, and also launched his Barbour collaboration. In the same year, Raeburn was awarded Menswear Brand of the Year at the UK Fashion and Textiles Awards.
In 2015, Raeburn 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. In the same year Raeburn 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 2016, Raeburn's "Layers of Natural Innovation" partnership with The Woolmark company was 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. That year Raeburn also launched a collaboration with MCM.
In Autumn 2018, US lifestyle brand Timberland announced its appointment of Raeburn as global creative director of the brand.
Style American Vogue's August 2010 issue highlighted Raeburn's contribution to all things green with the advice to "Remember the four R's – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Raeburn", accompanied by a Mario Testino shoot of Blake Lively wearing a Raeburn 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 Raeburn is the single most radical designer working today".
Awards 2008: Featured in Hywel Davies' publication '100 New Designers'. 2009: Award from the International Ethical Fashion Forum 2010 and 2011: Rising Star at the UK Fashion and Textiles Awards 2011: British Fashion Award for Emerging Talent Menswear 2013: Designer of the Year at the UKFT Awards 2014: Menswear Brand of the Year at the UKFT Awards 2015: Best Emerging Designer at the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2019: Honorary professorship and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) 2020: Brand of the Year (RÆBURN) at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2020: Fashion Award 2020 (RÆBURN), selected as one of the Honourees of the Environment category 2021: Brand of the Year (RÆBURN) at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2022: One of the Winners of the Common Objective Leadership Award (RÆBURN) 2022: Brand of the Year (RÆBURN) at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2022: Most Sustainable Store Design (RÆBURN’s Marshall Street, Carnaby Store) in the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards 2022: Zalando Sustainability Award Finalist
Collaborations +YearWithCollaborationsSources2011Victorinox'Remade in Switzerland' collection (launch during New York Fashion Week)2012MonclerOuterwear collection 'Moncler R'2013RaphaCapsule collection of city-riding garments named 'Rapha Raeburn'VictorinoxRaeburn x Victorinox 'Festival Ready' project launched; consisting of an 11-piece collection of camping gear and outdoor-wearFred PerryLimited edition polo shirt2014Oki NiSS15 collectionBarbour2015Oki NiVideo campaign showing how vintage materials can be re-createdLavazzaLondon Collections: Men, using an elliptical shark printClarksRaeburn's first footwear collection, received a sponsorship from Woolmark for both menswear and womenswear2016MCMSustainable ready to wear and accessories collection, "Made to Move"DisneyCollection of bags which pay homage to Mickey and Minnie2017Save The DuckCollection of recycled and animal-friendly outerwear presented at Pitti Uomo and continued for Spring/Summer 2018InstrmntLine of watchesPorter YoshidaPorter Stand in TokyoPalladiumFootwear collaboration launched at London Fashion Week: Men'sEastpakRange of backpacks remade from old camouflage jacketsVictoria and Albert MuseumRedesign of staff uniform2018FinisterreCapsule collection of ready to wear and accessories inspired by oceansCanO WaterDesign recyclable water can to replace plastic bottles from London ZooSecret CinemaDress actors for Blade Runner - The Final CutUmbroCapsule collection for the FIFA World Cup in RussiaTimberlandReady to wear collaboration at London Fashion Week Men's, which deconstructed old Timberland pieces2019The North FaceCapsule collection of bags remade from North Face tents that can no longer be repairedTimberlandReady to wear collection including accessories and footwear, using organic and recycled materialsDesign agency LAYERFurniture project 'The Canopy Collection' launched for London Design Festival in September 2019 with pieces featured recycled ex-military parachute and steel framesDesign MuseumMoving To Mars exhibition with their New Horizons collection, including repurposed solar blankets and parachutes2020DepopDepop × RÆBURN Reversible Bucket Hat projectRagnar AxelssonAutumn/Winter 2020 collection2021AesopMassimo OstiReviving Left Hand and ST95Onward Advanced SystemOutwear collectionBoardiesSwimwear capsule consisting of recycled materials and animal printZalando - The North FacThe North Face RENEWED by RÆBURN, a series of limited edition Panda Rucksacks Upcycled original The North Face garments
The Lab E20 opened in July; a 3,500sq ft space produced and designed by Raeburn. It will form Get Living’s new creative hub in East Village, London.
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