JW Anderson is a provocative ready-to-wear designer, celebrated for his androgynous aesthetic. Since its launch of menswear collection in 2008 and womenswear in 2010, the designer has continued to explore the relationship between male and female with his collections.
The designer was born in a small town in Northern Ireland in 1984. He believed his upbringing in such a small place was the reason he had such a strong desire for success. He did not always aspire to be a designer. He had ideas of being an actor, but the costumes proved to be a distraction.
While he was studying menswear at the London College of Fashion, he used to work as a window dresser at Prada.
In 2008 JW Anderson decided to launch his label with a menswear collection. The success of this debut collection earned both critical acclaim and commercial success for Anderson, whose label is now regarded as one of London’s most innovative and forward thinking brands. Its unique design aesthetic offers a modern interpretation of masculinity and femininity by creating thought-provoking silhouettes through a conscious cross-pollination between menswear and womenswear elements. This idiosyncratic perspective, which earned the label a cult following, prompted JW Anderson to present a women’s capsule collection in 2010. Later that year his collection was snapped up by Liberty.
During the same year, Anderson received business and funding support with the British Fashion Council's NEWGEN catwalk sponsorship, who also awarded him the year later.
Jw Anderson's first ready-to-wear collection was launched in collaboration with Topshop, but his most important featuring was in 2013, launching a capsule collection for Versus by Versace.
A recent investment by LVMH Moët Hennessy further cements JW Anderson‘s status as a rising, new-generation brand. Following the investment Jonathan Anderson was also appointed Creative Director of Loewe, and works on both brands in tandem.
