Christopher Raeburn British fashion designer Date of Birth: 13.08.1982 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Christopher Raeburn
2. First Official Collection and Recognition
3. Collaboration with Victorinox and Awards

Biography of Christopher Raeburn

Christopher Raeburn, a British fashion designer, was born on August 13, 1982, in Kent, East Sussex. Growing up in a family that encouraged creativity and the pursuit of talents, Raeburn was always inventing something new as a child. He would come up with ideas every week and then try to bring them to life with his father's help on weekends. At the age of 11, Raeburn completed a cadet flying training program, which essentially taught him how to fly.

In his search for hobbies and interests, Raeburn became involved in the Duke of Edinburgh program, which focuses on leadership, self-improvement, and teamwork. He spent a lot of time in Holland and eventually enrolled in the Royal College of Art in London. After completing his education in 2006, Raeburn ventured out on his own and patented a cutting tool of his own invention. In 2008, he opened his own studio and later launched his label.

Raeburn always had a desire to have his own production, and he just needed to find his niche and start working. His longstanding interest and experience in working with military fabrics led him to create a handmade collection of camouflage clothing. He participated in the "Camouflage" exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London and was mentioned in Hywel Davies' publication "100 New Designers."

First Official Collection and Recognition

Raeburn's first official collection, called "Inverted," was showcased at London Fashion Week. His reversible clothing collection gained attention for its innovative design. In 2009, he presented his menswear collection in Paris and received an award from the International Ethical Fashion Forum, which advocates for social responsibility and sustainability in the fashion industry. He also received support from the brand "Esthetica," which allowed him to showcase his work at London Fashion Week in September 2009.

A year later, Raeburn became the first designer to receive sponsorship from the retailer "Topshop" for the development of both menswear and womenswear collections for the 2010 fashion season. Raeburn gained recognition for the "ethical integrity" of his work, although he never intentionally pursued it. He simply aimed to produce high-quality clothing in England, and the aesthetic and ethical aspects emerged naturally.

In August 2010, "American Vogue" acknowledged Raeburn's contribution to the "green" movement and environmental protection. He was recognized alongside the concepts of "reduce," "reuse," and "recycle" as one of the four English words starting with the letter 'R' that should be remembered as nature's key allies.

Collaboration with Victorinox and Awards

In 2010, Raeburn began collaborating with the iconic Swiss label "Victorinox" to create a collection of menswear and womenswear. He convinced the Swiss brand to open a new workshop in Ibach, the hometown of Victorinox founder Karl Elsener. Raeburn even discovered the building where Elsener took his first steps towards success. The new production laboratory, named 'Victorinox,' was where Raeburn created a unique capsule collection consisting of around 100 items starting from February 2011.

In September 2011, Christopher Raeburn won the "Emerging Designer" award at the British Fashion Awards for his menswear collection. This recognition further solidified his position in the fashion industry.