Aitor Throup Biography

Aitor Throup (born 1980, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a fashion designer, artist and creative director based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is the current executive creative director of G-Star Raw. He is best known for his work for and collaborations with Damon Albarn, Kasabian, Flying Lotus, Umbro, C.P. Company, Stone Island, and G-Star Raw. His menswear label 'New Object Research' shows during Fashion Week Men's in London. Throup's work is informed by anatomy and movement.

Early life and education

Born in Argentina, Throup moved first to Spain and then to Burnley, Lancashire in 1992. Growing up in Burnley influenced his interest in football culture and kit. Throup's interest in anatomy and movement came at an earlier age when his mother was training to become a medical doctor, and he would find himself surrounded by medical books and references.

After completing a BA in Fashion Design at Manchester Metropolitan University he obtained an MA in Fashion Menswear from London's Royal College of Art in 2006.

Career

Throup opened his studio in east London in 2006. The following year Throup established his multi-disciplinary design house 'A.T. Studio'

A.T. Studio

A.T. Studio presented its first menswear collection at London Fashion Week titled 'The Funeral of New Orleans' (Part One) in 2007.

The following year, Throup began a two-season collaboration with Stone Island titled 'Modular Anatomy' and 'Articulated Anatomy'. Stone Island 'Modular Anatomy' and selected pieces from Throup's MA collection were presented at the 'Fashion V Sport' exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Throup was also commissioned to design and illustrate the cover of the December issue of Dazed & Confused Japan that year.

Throup also began working as a creative consultant for Umbro in 2008, designing the 2009 English national football team's official 'home' kit and the 2010 English national football team's 'away' kit for the World Cup. Throup later presented a third collaboration with Umbro in 2011 titled 'Archive Research Project', which launched exclusively at London's Dover Street Market.

In 2009, Throup collaborated with C.P. Company, re-designing the Goggle Jacket for the company's 20th anniversary.

In 2010, Throup presented 'Legs', a 45 piece retrospective of all Aitor Throup trouser concepts and prototypes to date at Paris Fashion Week.

In 2011, Throup was appointed as creative director of British rock band Kasabian, designing the artwork and global tour of their foutth album 'Velociraptor!'. Throup makes his first music video directorial debut for Kasabian's single 'Switchblade Smiles', and the animated TV advertisement for 'Velociraptor!' wins 'Best Music Ad' at the UK Music Video Awards.

In 2012, an on-going series of daily sketches of musings and investigations in movement by Throup titled 'The Daily Sketchbook Archives' was published by Throup on his official website and Instagram account.

In 2014, Throup was appointed as creative director for Damon Albarn's debut solo album 'Everyday Robots', resulting in designing and photographing the album and lead single artworks, as well as the direction of the lead single's video.

Also in 2014 Throup continued creative direction for Kasabian's 5th studio album titled ' in June of that year.

That same year, Throup directed a short film titled, 'A Portrait of Noomi Rapace' scored by Flying Lotus, and commissioned by online video portal Nowness to mark the website's re-launch.

In October 2014, Throup designed the 'Death Veil Mask' for Flying Lotus, worn during his American tour dates and one performance at London's Roundhouse.

In 2014 Throup created new designs for the District 13 and Castor & Pollux combat uniforms for the Hollywood movie 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1', and in 2015 completed new designs for the District 13 and Castor & Pollux combat uniforms for the Hollywood movie 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2'.

New Object Research

Throup announced a preview of his brand and product line 'New Object Research' at London Fashion Week Men's in 2012, hosted by fashion ambassadors Sarah Mower and Tim Blanks.

Throup's first complete 'New Object Research' line was presented at London Fashion Week Men's in 2013, and later that year he published his design manifesto for 'New Object Research'.

Two years later, Throup revealed his photographic series 'The Rite of Spring' in December 2015, inspired by Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring which Throup stated that it "represented the death of the old me and the rebirth of the new."

In June 2016, Throup held a debut catwalk show for New Object Research titled 'The Rite of Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter' during London Fashion Week Men's. Fashion journalist Tim Blanks explained it as, "much less fashion show than performance art piece." "?The Rite of Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter' articulated sculptures and exclusive prototypes were then exhibited in Dover Street Market London.

G-Star RAW

In April 2014 Throup was announced as a creative consultant for G-Star Raw.

Throughout his tenure as creative consultant, Throup created the concept of the G-Star RAW flagship in London, directed the "What Is Raw?"? advertising campaign, and designed the 3-D denim 'Staq' jeans.

In June 2016, Throup launched his first collection with G-Star RAW titled 'Raw Research', created in the innovation laboratory also set up by the designer.

Throup was appointed as Executive Creative Director of G-Star RAW on October 25, after 3 years as a creative consultant for the company. WWD broke the news exclusively, with Throup explaining to journalist Lorelei Marfil, "I genuinely believe in the brand"?s manifesto to become the definitive denim brand of the 21st century, so I just want to facilitate that through a really focused vision and commitment to innovation".

In January 2017 Throup presented his second 'Raw Research' collection - his debut as Executive Creative Director of G-Star RAW. Raw Research II was presented in a gallery-like space during Paris Men's Fashion Week at Palais de Tokyo "true to Throup"?s highly artistic sensibilities" as noted by journalist Vanessa Hsieh.

Awards

2006 Winner of the 'Collection of the Year' award and i-D Styling Award at ITS No. 5 International Talent Support.

2010 Goggle Jacket nominated for the 'Design of the Year' award by the Design Museum in London.

2012 Winner of 'XII Premi a la Moda Felicidad Duce' from the Superior Fashion School of Design in Barcelona.

2015 Awarded the 'Generali Special Award' at ITS No. 14 International Talent Support in Trieste, Italy.

2015 Awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Art.