UTA Signs Fashion and Costume Designer Jonathan Anderson (EXCLUSIVE)

UTA has signed fashion and costume designer Jonathan Anderson for representation.

The signing comes as Anderson, who is prolific in the world of fashion and creative director for Loewe, crossed over into costume design this year with his collaborations with filmmaker Luca Guadagnino on “Challengers” and “Queer.”

Earlier this year, “Challengers” actor Josh O’Connor discussed how Anderson’s choices helped shape Patrick’s character. In the film, Patrick, a tennis player, is fighting for Tashi’s (Zendaya) attention and dons a pair of purple shorts while living out of his car. Said O’Connor, “As Josh, I would have felt so deeply uncomfortable with them. First of all, the size. He probably had those shorts from when he was, like, 14. He doesn’t mind if it’s a bit revealing — he doesn’t give a shit.”

Anderson was also responsible for Patrick’s other look, one he shared with Tashi, which was a t-shirt emblazoned with “I TOLD YA.” The tee is a near replica of one John F. Kennedy Jr. was photographed wearing in the ’90s, itself appearing to reference the “I TOLD YOU SO” buttons collectors have held on to since the 1961 inauguration of his late father. The tee became a sought-after item when Loewe released a limited edition version.

Said Blair Kohan, UTA board member and partner, “We are excited and honored to welcome Jonathan to UTA. He is a gifted designer whose visionary work has shaped fashion and culture for over a decade. We look forward to supporting him as he expands his creative influence in all forms of storytelling, building on his already extraordinary success.”

Anderson, a Northern Ireland native, founded his eponymous fashion label, JW Anderson, in 2008 at the age of 24. In 2013, luxury brand LVMH acquired a minority stake in JW Anderson and appointed him as the creative director of the Spanish fashion house Loewe.

Over the years, Anderson’s touch has elevated Loewe from a heritage brand into a globally recognized household name and industry powerhouse. He is widely celebrated for his curatorial approach to fashion-making and brand-building.

Anderson has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024. For the second year in a row, The British Fashion Council named Anderson Designer of the Year. In 2023, the CFDA named Anderson International Designer of the Year. Earlier this year, he served as an Honorary Chair of the Met Gala, which Loewe sponsored.

Anderson also collects art and is an avid collector. As a trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum, Anderson founded the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2016, an international award celebrating independent artisans across ceramics, woodworking, basket weaving, textile art, and jewelry design.

Through his love of art, Anderson has also helped curate collaborations with Loewe and Studio Ghibli, Joe Brainard, Ken Price, Anthea Hamilton, Richard Hawkins, Lynda Benglis, and others. He curated the Disobedient Bodies exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield in 2017, and this year, Anderson and his brand JW Anderson presented On Foot, an exhibition curated alongside Offer Waterman Gallery in London.