NI man named in TIME 100 Most Influential list: ‘One of the most intelligent, empathetic, and curious people I know’

Anderson, who was raised in Magherafelt and is the son of former Ireland rugby captain Willie Anderson, is the creative mind behind Spanish fashion house Loewe, as well as his own brand, JW Anderson.

Taking to Instagram to celebrate his achievement, the 39-year-old wrote: "Thank you @TIME for this incredible honour. Massive thank you to Luca for your kind words.”

Luca Guadagnino, the director behind Hollywood movie Challengers, for which Anderson designed the costumes, wrote the NI man’s TIME dedication, stating that “he is grounded, and he has an innate understanding of how fashion and human behavior intertwine”.

"Jonathan is one of the most intelligent, empathetic, and curious people I know, but he also has a wonderful sense of humor, and a capacity not to take himself too seriously,” the Oscar-nominated filmmaker continues.

“Costume design in particular takes a great deal of humanity and wisdom, and working with him in the past has helped me better understand the characters whose stories we were telling. His work is always ahead of the curve. What he does at JW Anderson and Loewe is fashion that belongs to us all, now and in the future.”

Anderson was also named Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Council’s The Fashion Awards 2023 in London last year.

Challengers – the highly anticipated tennis drama that features an all-star cast led by Zendaya – will be released in UK cinemas on April 26.

Zendaya has also worn custom designs by Loewe during her promotion tour of the movie.

It marked Anderson’s first turn as a costumier for a major film, and he said he was inspired to work on the film and was engrossed in styling the characters throughout the film’s multiple time jumps.