32-year old Jonathan William Anderson says hailing from a small town in rural Northern Ireland is what inspired him to dream big. His meteoric rise to success lies in his skill to draw inspiration from the boldly influential yet fleeting cultural movements of the past—'80s Berlin, '70s Glam-Rock—recontextualizing them to tell stories relevant for the 21st century. Having graduated from London College of Fashion with a degree in menswear, he started off assisting stylist Manuela Pavesi as a window-dresser for Prada before striking off on his own. He founded his namesake line in 2008, beginning first with accessories before launching into menswear at London Fashion Week that spring, and debuting womenswear in 2010. He has since gone on to become the creative director for Loewe in 2013, where he has eschewed the expected runway show in favor of seasonal hardcover photobooks, and has directed menswear for Sunspel and collaborated with Topshop, Versus by Versace and, most recently, a capsule collection for A$AP Rocky’s AWGE collective. His ability to connect high-fashion with popular culture has also made him a celebrated favorite of celebrities and fashion insiders, including Alexa Chung, Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Pixie Geldof, Rihanna and Rita Ora. Though his list of projects is extensive, he has balanced his time at Loewe and J.W.Anderson by approaching the roles an "editor" rather than strictly a designer, allowing his teams to create freely while he manages and delegates tasks. Indeed it is "freedom" that would best define the ethos of J.W.Anderson. His avant garde approach and unisex designs have firmly expressed his flexibility from the often staunch conformities of the fashion industry.

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