Following the recent departure of creative director Clare Waight Keller, Givenchy has announced that Matthew M. Williams has now taken on the vacated position and will helm a new chapter in the maison’s history. The American designer has garnered considerable recognition for the founding and directing of his own label 1017 ALYX 9SM, which has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim and commercial success amongst fashion fanatics and contemporaries. Following his appointment, Williams is set to present his first collections for Givenchy in Paris this October.
In a statement, Renaud de Lesquen, CEO and President of Givenchy, declared,
“I am convinced that, with his unapologetic approach to design and creativity and in great collaboration with the maison's exceptional ateliers and teams, Matthew will help Givenchy reach its full potential.”
As a part of his creative process, Williams’ has been known to draw influence from his connections to the worlds of art, music, and photography, all of which inform one another and help to cultivate his own creative ecosystem. By that nature, Williams stays relevant and very much in touch with the contemporary fashion scene, allowing him to design collections that are rooted in modernity and appeal to a younger audience. An audience that has arguably become somewhat disenfranchised with the label since the departure of former creative director Riccardo Tisci.
Williams’ conceptualisation of street sub-culture, his commitment to experimental fabrication, and his utilisation of sustainable resources give him the tools to effortlessly meet the demands of an ever-evolving market. These same ideologies also perfectly align with Givenchy’s philosophy of elegant modernity; one that pays homage to the maison’s rich heritage whilst simultaneously promoting a progressive, culturally-relevant vision.
