Authentic Fashion

Givenchy welcomes its seventh chief: Matthew M. Williams, who is only 34 years old. From DJ to stylist and now fashion designer, this self-taught “slashie” is adept in the game of trends. Now that he has gained entry into the legendary house of high fashion, taking over the helm from clare waight keller, everyone is waiting to see what this young American will bring to the storied french brand

- Mu Yuan

Fashion designers come and go, yet in June last year when Givenchy appointed 34-year-old American designer Matthew M. Williams as its new creative director, it still managed to cause quite a stir. The sensation is perhaps not surprising, considering how this role in the past was filled by legendary designing geniuses such as Hubert de Givenchy, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Riccardo Tisci. Williams represents a new breed, one more in line with the likes of Kim Jones, the current creative director for Dior Homme, and Virgil Abloh, the artistic director for Louis Vuitton Menswear. So what kind of transformation will Givenchy, a high fashion brand well-known for its “Hepburn style of elegance” undergo, especially in a time when fashion has never been more unpredictable?