Jonathan Anderson

Summary

One of the fashion industry’s most acclaimed British designers, Jonathan Anderson — the creative director of his eponymous label JW Anderson and Creative Director of Spanish luxury label Loewe— is heralded as a significantly original talent.

History

Jonathan Anderson was born and grew up in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland but spent a lot of time on the Balearic island of Ibiza, where his parents owned a house. At 18, he moved to the United States aspiring to be an actor. Though he attended The Juilliard School, New York his passions diversified from acting to costume design and he subsequently shifted base to Dublin, securing his first fashion-based job at department store, Brown Thomas. Anderson later moved to London, graduating with a degree in menswear design from the prestigious London College of Fashion in 2005.

With this trade craft in his portfolio, Jonathan Anderson began his career as a visual merchandiser for Prada where he worked for Manuela Pavesi. He launched his own menswear collection shortly after in 2008. His first collection under the label ‘JW Anderson’ received critical acclaim. In 2010, Anderson received sponsorship from the British Fashion Council‘s Newton committee and subsequently presented his debut catwalk collection at London Fashion Week. There was no looking back!

Due to his thought-provoking silhouettes which were a cross-pollination of masculinity and felinity, fans and friends persuaded Anderson to launch a womenswear capsule collection in 2010, which sold out and led to him securing a second NewGen sponsorship.

In September 2012, Anderson collaborated with high-street giant Topshop on a limited-edition collection of clothing and accessories that sold out within hours of its launch. Anderson produced a second collection for Topshop in February 2013. “This collection was more about youth cultural groups,” Anderson told Vogue. “The girl has evolved. It’s about carrying over the idea of iconic pieces that can be worn over and over and re-working staple looks from the JW Anderson wardrobe.”

In June 2013, he showcased his first collection for Versace‘s diffusion line, Versus. “Versus mixed with JW Anderson proved a heady cocktail – young, sexy and just a little bit out-there. Cut-out pieces for boys and girls, lace, zebra print and crisp white go-go boots were highlights. Crowns for men, though, may prove a step too far,” per The Guardian.

In September 2013, LVMH took a minority stake in JW Anderson and hired him to take the creative reins at Loewe, an LVMH-owned brand based in Madrid and best known for its leather goods. “When Delphine Arnault and I first met Jonathan, we immediately felt that we could help him to express the true potential of his innovative, fast-emerging and already influential brand,” Pierre-Yves Roussel, chairman and CEO of LVMH, told Vogue. “While discussing our partnership, and as we got to know him better, it became clear that his understanding of all creative facets of a brand and his capacity to transform tradition into an exciting vision for the present would make him also the perfect creative director for Loewe.”

Since his appointment, Anderson has exhibited a more evolved, refined version of his design aesthetic and in 2015 was awarded womenswear and menswear designer of the year at British Fashion Awards, the first time any fashion designer had been presented with both awards in the same year!!

Anderson has also been honoured by the British Fashion Council with ‘Emerging Talent, Ready-to-wear’ in 2012, ‘The New Establishment Award’ the following year, ‘Menswear Designer of the Year’ in 2014, ‘Menswear Brand of the Year and Womenswear brand of the Year’ in 2015, ‘Accessories Designer of the Year’ and ‘British Designer of the Year — Womenswear’ in 2017. PS In 2015 he was incorporated as a permanent jury member for the LVMH Prize and in 2019 named a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum by none other than UK prime minister Theresa May.

Vision

A modern interpretation of masculinity and femininity by creating thought-provoking silhouettes.

Mission Statement

To continuously present a more evolved, refined version of his design aesthetic.

Awards and Recognition

The Fashion Awards by the British Fashion Council showered Anderson with accolades -:
2012 Emerging Talent Award: Ready-To-Wear
2013 New Establishment Designer of The Year
2014 Menswear Designer of The Year
2015 Menswear Designer of The Year and Womenswear Designer of The Year
2017 British Designer of The Year: Womenswear
2017 Jonathan Anderson for Loewe Accessories: Designer of The Year

Products and Services

Menswear, womenswear and luxury accessories

References

• Official website Jonathan Anderson
• JW Anderson Joins LVMH And Will Helm Loewe Vogue
• Twitter profile of Jonathan Anderson Twitter
• LVMH buys stake in fashion label JW Anderson The Guardian
• Versace unveils first Versus collection by JW Anderson The Guardian
• British Fashion Awards 2015: menswear and womenswear designer of the year Independent
• JW Anderson For Topshop Take Two Vogue
• Facebook profile of Jonathan Anderson Facebook
• Jonathan Anders taps ASAP Rocky NY Times
• Jonathan Anderson Shares the Inspirations Behind His Brand and Loewe WSJ
• JW Anderson mixes mundane and strange in show streamed on Grindr Telegraph
• Instagram profile of Jonathan Anderson Instagram
• LVMH considers creative director change at Louis Vuitton Reuters
• Jonathan Anderson BoF
• Youtube profile of Jonathan Anderson Youtube
• The end of gender fashion? hit-bag
• Wikipedia profile of Jonathan Anderson Wikipedia
• J.W Anderson workshop and Luis Venegas to co-release a book Vogue
• Topshop announce JW Anderson collaboration Telegraph