Josephus Thimister

Josephus Thimister
Born Josephus Melchior Thimister
(1962-09-16) 16 September 1962
Maastricht, Netherlands
Nationality Dutch
Education Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
Occupation Fashion designer
Awards Fashion Trophy Paris, Best Designer of the Year Barneys, for the first collection Balenciaga
Labels THIMISTER, Balenciaga, Charles Jourdan, Genny, Andy Warhol

Josephus Melchior Thimister (born 16 September 1962) is a Belgian interior decorator and noted fashion designer who launched his eponymous fashion label, THIMISTER in 1997. In 2001, the editor-in-chief of Vogue USA Anna Wintour named Josephus Thimister as one of the twenty-first best fashion designers.[1] In 2010, the New York Times described his couture show and its pieces as, “fascinating (…) quite clear in military shapes and broken elegance. Dresses like melted down family silver”[2] - Cathy Horyn. After a brief period with Karl Lagerfeld as an assistant, he worked as a designer along Jean Patou before being appointed director of luxury prêt-à-porter at the renowned house of Balenciaga. It was for the next five and a half years that Thimister would spend reviving the brand with his pure, succinctly modernist vision. He then set up his own Paris-based house in 1997, and has since presented both haute couture and prêt-à-porter collections under his name.

Early life and career

Born to parents of Russian, Belgian, and French descent in Maastricht, Netherlands in 1962, Thimister knew of his passion for design at the age of four. His ambitions soon materialized when he graduated from the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp summa cum laude in 1987; the same year Thimister claimed first prize for design in the institution. Within a year, the aspiring designer found himself working under Karl Lagerfeld, now creative director of Chanel and also his own renowned label.

Early career

Thimister then worked alongside prominent designer, Jean Patou at the House of Patou in preparation of their 1990 haute-couture collection. From 1987 to 1992, Thimister has also freelanced as an illustrator and interior decorator for magazines (Vogue, Vogue Déco, Elle Déco, World of Interiors), private clients, exhibitions (Maison et Object, Musée Carnavalet, Grand Palais), and art installations in Rome, Italy.

Balenciaga Years

In 1991, Thimister advanced toward Balenciaga where he would hold the position as artistic director of luxury women’s prêt-à-porter and accessories for over half a decade. It was said that at Balenciaga, he "contributed through his minimalist style and great skills in cutting in modernizing the house's image." [3]

After spending nearly six years with Balenciaga, Josephus Thimister began to design for the Italian ready-to-wear label Genny in 1998. Alongside Genny, Thimister readapted classic military coats and bias-cut gowns; synthesizing dramatic, long leather skirts with elegant crisp cotton-glazed shirts. His designs showed a different approach of the art, demonstrating his individuality among the established couture names. Critics were supposedly struck by the modernity and apparent simplicity of his silhouettes.

In February 2005, Thimister was named head designer by the house of Charles Jourdan, in replacement of Patrick Cox. Working with Charles Jourdan, Thimister became known for his poetically Nordic, lightly surrealist and controversial creations.

Thimister thereafter did stints with various fashion-influenced institutions for three years.

He designed a collection for Andy Warhol entitled "Andy Warhol: Heroes & Icons", put on display in 2006 around Europe.[4]

He also supervised and consulted the concept design of handbags under the Swarovski name.[5]

House of THIMISTER

In a few years, Thimister had designed an entire mélange of haute couture and luxury prêt-a-porter pieces. In January 2010, after being invited by the Fédération française de la couture,[6] his return show was met with resounding success and received much praise from the press and the industry. The collection, termed "1915: Bloodshed and Opulence" an anti-war collection,[7] was a medley of recycled military jackets and canvas tents, and elegant couture finishing of silk, crepe and satin lining. "I’m convinced that all of today’s problems are the conclusion of that period", claimed Thimister in an interview with Style.com, "I am recycling some of my favorite fabrics, like imperial satin and wool blends".[8] An array of ultra-brut fused with ultra-sophistiqué materials were hence formed. The brand now boasts celebrated pieces of blood Red, rough Khaki and faded Ivory; pieces defined as “starkly beautiful”[9] - (Jenny Barchfield)

Personal life

Josephus Thimister resides in Dublin, Ireland along with his fashion House in Paris, France. Several articles from his collection are predicted to appear in department stores and multi-brand boutiques across the globe.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Horyn, Cathy (11 January 2010). "Down in the Trenches". Runway.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "Cathy Horyn (CathyHorynNYT) on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Thimister named guest designer at Paris couture shows - News, Fashion". The Independent. UK. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "Emerge Trends". Emerge Trends. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  5. ↑ "Josephus Melchior Thimister - designer profile on FMD". Fashionmodeldirectory.com. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Paris Haute Couture: season opens with Josephus Thimister's 'anti-war' collection". Daily Telegraph. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  7. ↑ Menkes, Suzy (25 January 2010). "From Russia With Blood". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Sarah Mower (24 January 2010). "Thimister Spring 2010 Couture Collection on Style.com: Runway Review". Style.com. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  9. ↑ http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DECO3O0.html
  10. ↑ "Thimister Spring 2010 Couture Collection on Style.com: Complete Collection". Style.com. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
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