After a lot hypothesis, Matthieu Blazy has been confirmed as the subsequent Creative Director of Chanel, marking the primary exterior appointment to the function since Karl Lagerfeld was employed to revamp the model in 1983.
Alain Wertheimer, International Government Chairman, and Leena Nair, International CEO of Chanel, known as the designer in a joint assertion in the present day “probably the most gifted designers of his technology”. “His imaginative and prescient and expertise will reinforce the power of the model and our place as a frontrunner in luxurious. Beneath Bruno Pavlovsky’s [Chanel’s President of Fashion] management, we’re assured that Matthieu Blazy will proceed to form what’s subsequent and write a brand new web page in Chanel’s creation,” they mentioned.
After Virginie Viard’s exit from the function in June, Blazy’s title had been on the business’s lips as a potential substitute. The French-Belgian designer served as Inventive Director for Bottega Veneta since 2021, following the sudden exit of now-Burberry Chief Inventive Officer Daniel Lee. Carven Inventive Director Louise Trotter was introduced as Blazy’s successor on the Italian luxurious home earlier in the present day.
Blazy joined Bottega Veneta in 2020 as Design Director, earlier than taking the reins as Inventive Director. Blazy’s Bottega is a resilient one, being Kering’s high performing vogue model amid a luxurious slowdown. Gross sales have been up 4 per cent within the first 9 months of 2024 to €1.23 billion (£1 billion).
The appointment succeeds Viard’s five-year tenure as artistic director, a job she assumed following Karl Lagerfeld’s loss of life in 2019. Since Viard’s departure was introduced, hypothesis over her successor has been rife. Names akin to Hedi Slimane, John Galliano, and Simon Porte Jacquemus have been continuously talked about, whereas Marc Jacobs brazenly expressed his curiosity within the place.
Established in 1910 by milliner Coco Chanel, Chanel has demonstrated sturdy resilience through the financial downturn. Whereas shopper weak point has slowed development in China and intensified competitors for buyer loyalty, Chanel’s revenues elevated by 16 per cent year-on-year, reaching $19.7 billion (£15.5 billion) in 2023.
