admin Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage
And the three-year trend continues: Matthew M. Williams is reportedly leaving Givenchy, the brand announced on Friday morning. The news was first reported by WWD.
“Leading the creative direction of Givenchy was, as I said upon my arrival in 2020, the dream of a lifetime. Over these three years, I have strived to perpetuate Mr. Hubert de Givenchy’s legacy while bringing my own creative vision and I would like to sincerely thank the studio, Renaud de Lesquen, and LVMH for this incredible opportunity,” Williams said in a statement.
Renaud de Lesquen, president and CEO of Givenchy, added: “I would like to thank Matthew for all the energy he brought to Givenchy. His collections, resolutely creative and contemporary, have sparked a new dynamic and found their audience. I join everyone who has had the pleasure of working with Matthew in wishing him every success in his next ventures.”
Givenchy announced the founder of 1017 ALYX 9SM as Clare Waight Keller’s successor in June 2020. His first collection as creative director dropped virtually, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in October of that year.
The split isn’t necessarily shocking: There’s been speculation about how his vision for the storied French fashion house — tougher, more hardware-heavy and streetwear-informed than that of previous creative directors — was going over not just with customers, but with LVMH brass. (An Oct. 2022 profile of the designer by Jessica Testa in The New York Times was particularly revealing. Lauren Sherman did some more reporting on it in April for Puck’s Line Sheet.) The feedback was heard, it seems, as Williams brought in Carine Roitfeld as a stylist starting Spring 2023, to add a softer, more feminine touch to his runway collections, which were admittedly getting stronger as the seasons went on.
According to WWD, Williams will stay with the brand until the end of the year — the end of his initial contract. (His last collection will be Pre-Fall 2024.) Perhaps the writing was on the wall when 1017 Alyx 9SM announced that Hong Kong entrepreneur and investor Adrian Cheng had acquired a majority stake in the label in November, with a plan to grow its categories, expand its team and open stores, as also reported by WWD. (Per the announcement, “Williams will fully dedicate himself to the development of his own brand, 1017 ALYX 9SM” after leaving Givenchy.)
Much like his predecessor, Williams spent three years at the helm of the French fashion house. As for who will replace him in the role, there’s been speculation for almost as long as Williams’ tenure, but nothing has confirmed. In a press release confirming Williams’ departure, the brand said simply: “Until the announcement of a new creative chapter, Givenchy will continue to embody a singular and bold vision of elegance through its upcoming collections, which will be designed by the House’s studio teams.”
Never miss the latest fashion industry news. Sign up for the Fashionista daily newsletter.
