Josephus Melchior Thimister was born in Maastricht, Holland, in 1962. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in the early 90's. Together with Martin Margiela and Ann Demeulemeester he belonged to the Antwerp group that revealed to the fashion world the existence of a pool of Belgian creativity. Born in Maastricht, he moved to Paris. For five years (1992-1997) he was in charge of the Balenciaga Collections.
He started his own couture line in 1998, in New York, which was received with great acclaim.
In addition to his own label, he also designs for the Italian ready-to-wear label Genny. At Genny, Thimister has reworked classics like military coats and bias-cut gowns and created dramatic, long leather skirts paired with crisp white shirts.
Josephus does not fall into the trap of trying hard to be avant garde. His clothes are so effortlessly elegant, you cannot tell how it is done.
In February 2005, the house of Charles Jourdan announced that Josephus has been appointed their designer, to replace Patrick Cox.