Josephus Thimister

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Josephus Thimister
Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
Labels
AwardsFashion Trophy Paris, Best Designer of the Year
Barneys, for the first collection Balenciaga
Websitethimister.com

Josephus Melchior Thimister (16 September 1962 – 13 November 2019) was a Dutch interior decorator and noted fashion designer who launched his eponymous fashion label, THIMISTER in 1997. In 2001, the editor-in-chief of Vogue USA

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

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, then creative director of Chanel
and also of his own eponymous label.

Early career

Thimister then worked at the

World of Interiors), private clients, exhibitions (Maison et Object, Musée Carnavalet, Grand Palais), and created art installations in Rome
.

Balenciaga Years

In 1991, Thimister advanced toward

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 1998. At 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 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 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.

He designed a collection inspired by 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 resided in

Paris, France
near his eponymous fashion house.

Thimister committed suicide on 13 November 2019.[10] He was 57 years old.[11]

References

  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.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Emerge Trends". Emerge Trends. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. 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. Archived from the original on 26 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. ^ [1][dead link]
  10. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  11. ^ "Josephus Thimister Dies at 57". 13 November 2019.
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