Raf Simons AW2008-09 Graphic Embroidered Tailored Jacket, Grey, White, Black and Sand Gradient, Size 44

A Raf Simons tailored jacket from autumn-winter 2008-09 whose entire surface dissolves in a gradient of raised graphic embroidery, pale grey at the shoulders through ivory and black to sand at the hem.

The Piece

By the late 2000s Raf Simons was designing Jil Sander and his own label side by side, and his own collections became a place for bolder surface experiments set onto his precise tailoring. Pieces from autumn-winter 2008-09 with this kind of all-over textile work turn up rarely and are prized as statement jackets of the period.

The cut is a slim single-breasted jacket with notched lapels and padded shoulders, but the cloth is the point: a blend of wool, acrylic, alpaca and nylon worked into dense swirling, loop-like motifs that shift in tone from top to bottom like a long exposure. It is lined in polyester-cotton and rayon, and the woven label reads Raf Simons, Autumn-Winter 2008-2009.

Tagged 44, it measures 42 cm across the shoulder and 73 cm long, a close, hip-length fit typical of the era. Worn with plain black trousers and a white shirt, it does all the talking.

Pieces like this show the experimental side of Raf Simons that sits alongside his reputation for restraint. With its tag still present and its textured surface intact, it is a rare survivor of a season that is seldom seen in this category, and an obvious centrepiece for a late-2000s archive.

Details

• Designer: Raf Simons
• Season: Autumn-winter 2008-09
• Model / ref: Graphic embroidered single-breasted jacket
• Material: Shell 50% wool, 27% acrylic, 14% alpaca, 9% nylon; lining polyester-cotton and rayon
• Colour: Grey, white, black and sand gradient
• Made in: Not stated on the visible labels
• Tagged size: 44
• Measurements: Shoulder 42 cm · Chest (pit to pit) 44 cm · Sleeve 68 cm · Length 73 cm
• Included: Tag

Condition

• Pre-owned; no faults are noted.
• Textured surface appears full and even in the photographs.
• Shoulder pads in place; lining intact.
• Three photographs available; further detail on request.

Condition grade AB on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.

Authenticity & Care

The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Specialist dry clean only; avoid snagging the textured surface; rest on a broad-shouldered hanger and store in a breathable bag away from moths.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.

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