In a surprising twist to the year’s fashion narratives, Givenchy has announced the departure of its creative director, Matthew M. Williams. Ending his three-year tenure, Williams will officially leave the iconic French label on January 1, 2024. This news comes as a shock to many in the fashion world, following a year of significant shifts in designer roles across major brands.
As reported by WWD, Givenchy’s brief statement confirmed the upcoming departure without hinting at a potential successor. Williams’ final contribution to the brand will be the pre-fall 2024 collections for both men and women, set to be unveiled on social media in the coming days.
Reflecting on his time at Givenchy, Williams expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the brand’s creative direction, a role he had described as a lifetime dream upon his arrival in 2020. He acknowledged his efforts to honor the legacy of Mr. Hubert de Givenchy while infusing his unique creative vision. Williams extended his sincere thanks to the studio, Givenchy president and CEO Renaud de Lesquen, and the LVMH group for their support.
In return, de Lesquen lauded Williams’ contributions, noting that his “resolutely creative and contemporary” collections have injected a fresh dynamic into the brand and resonated with audiences. He joined others in wishing Williams success in his future endeavors.
Williams succeeded Clare Waight Keller as creative director in June 2020, debuting his first collection for Givenchy in December of that year amidst the challenges of the Covid pandemic. His departure coincides with recent developments at his streetwear brand, 1017 Alyx 9SM, which secured new investment from Hong Kong entrepreneur Adrien Cheng just two weeks prior.
As the fashion industry awaits the announcement of Williams’ successor at Givenchy, his influence on the brand’s direction during these transformative years will undoubtedly be remembered and celebrated.
