Josephus thimister biography

Belgian interior designer

Josephus Melchior Thimister (16 September – 13 November ) was a Dutch interior decorator and noted fashion designer who launched his eponymous fashion label, THIMISTER in In , the editor-in-chief of Vogue USA Anna Wintour named Josephus Thimister as one of the Twenty-First Century's best fashion designers.^[1] In , Cathy Horyn writing for 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] After a brief period with Karl Lagerfeld as an assistant, he worked as a designer at Jean Patou before being appointed director of luxury prêt-à-porter at the 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.

Josephus thimister biography Retrieved Working at Charles Jourdan, Thimister became known for his poetically Nordic, lightly surrealist and controversial creations. Archived from the original on 26 January Critics were struck by the modernity and apparent simplicity of his silhouettes.

He then set up his own Paris-based house in , and thereafter 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 , 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 Antwerpsumma cum laude in ; the same year Thimister claimed first prize for design in the institution. Within a year, the aspiring designer found himself working under Karl Lagerfeld, then creative director of Chanel and also of his own eponymous label.

Josephus thimister biography for kids Early life and career [ edit ]. Kansai Yamamoto. The Independent. Retrieved

Early career

Thimister then worked at the House of Patou in preparation of their haute-couture collection. From to , Thimister 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 created art installations in Rome.

Balenciaga Years

In , 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, Thimister began to design for the Italian ready-to-wear label Genny in At Genny, Thimister readapted classic military coats and bias-cut gowns; synthesizing dramatic, long leather skirts with elegant crisp cotton-glazed shirts.

Josephus thimister biography wikipedia Maastricht , Netherlands. After graduating with distinction from the fashion department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Timister began working under the guidance of Karl Lagerfeld, the current creative director of 'Chanel' and his own fashion label. Critics were struck by the modernity and apparent simplicity of his silhouettes. Alongside his work for prominent fashion houses, Timister continued to fulfill individual orders of varying levels.

His designs showed a different approach of the art, demonstrating his individuality among the established couture names. Critics were struck by the modernity and apparent simplicity of his silhouettes.

In February , Thimister was named head designer by the house of Charles Jourdan, in replacement of Patrick Cox. Working at 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.

Josephus thimister balenciaga His designs showed a different approach of the art, demonstrating his individuality among the established couture names. His standout Autumn-Winter Couture collection - which he decided to present during the Spring Paris Couture calendar - combined military coats and jackets with floor-length evening skirts, innovative ballgowns and exquisite cocktail dresses. Download as PDF Printable version. Menkes, Suzy 25 January

He designed a collection inspired by Andy Warhol entitled "Andy Warhol: Heroes & Icons", put on display in 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 , 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 " 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 , "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 resided in Dublin, Ireland as well as in Paris, France near his eponymous fashion house.

Thimister committed suicide on 13 November ^[10] He was 57 years old.^[11]

References