It’s been rumoured for some time and now it’s been confirmed, Sarah Burton is the new creative director of LVMH’s Givenchy.
It’s an undeniably interesting appointment as the former Alexander McQueen creative chief again follows in the footsteps of McQueen himself who was creative chief at the label from 1996 to 2001.
Burton’s appointment takes place with immediate effect and she’ll be responsible for the creative direction of all of the Maison’s women’s and men’s collections.
She called it “a great honour” and said the fashion house is “a jewel. I am so excited to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this iconic house and to bring to Givenchy my own vision, sensibility and beliefs”.
And Sidney Toledano, Givenchy’s chairman, added that Burton is “an exceptional creative talent whose work I have passionately followed for many years; I am very glad that she is joining Givenchy today. Her unique vision and approach to fashion will be invaluable to this iconic Maison, known for its audacity and haute couture. I am convinced that her creative leadership will contribute to the future success and international standing of the Maison”.
Meanwhile CEO Alessandro Valenti (who only joined the house in July from the role of president of EMEA at Louis Vuitton) hailed her “remarkable career path and creative vision [that] have already won her a vast fan base, and we are certain that under her direction, Givenchy will continue to innovate and captivate an extensive audience across the world stage”.
Her first collection will be unveiled in March next year for the AW season.
Burton, who studied fashion at Central Saint Martins, joined Alexander McQueen in 1996 and became head of design in 2000 under founder Lee Alexander McQueen.
She worked closely with him for many years and became creative director after his death in 2010, setting about continuing his legacy while adding her own style to the collections. The length of her stay at the label underlines how well she did this.
Accolades during her 13-year creative director tenure included designing the wedding dress for the Princess of Wales in 2011 and receiving an OBE a year later.
She now steps into the post made available by Matthew Williams who left Givenchy in January.
It’s also an interesting appointment, especially given Alessadro Michele’s recent arrival at Valentino. Together they perhaps mark the end of a trend that saw some big labels experimenting by naming relative unknowns with a strong avant garde profile to top creative roles only to find their stays at the labels were fairly short.
Burton is in many ways a ‘safe pair of hands’ — but with a very creative edge — to take forward a house that has often been overshadowed by LVMH’s superstar brands such as Vuitton and Dior.
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