Clare Waight Keller’s inception as Givenchy’s artistic director in 2017 came with great responsibility. The Peter Parker cliché lends itself here, as the brand’s then-CEO Philippe Fortunato, who’s now spearheading Richemont’s fashion portfolio, boldly stated that the grand plan was to supercharge Givenchy to Dior proportions. The latter’s revenue in 2018 was over 2 billion euros. The former then, north of 400 million euros.
After three years, Waight Keller — who’d finessed floaty, bohemian femininity at Chloé to cult status and launched many It bags of the 2010s — and the house parted ways. Unsurprisingly, because despite the designer’s beautiful, modern couture and directional ready-to-wear collections, what did the brand as a whole really say to consumers between 2017 to 2020? Beyond nice products and that Ariana Grande campaign, it did little to invigorate memory structures around what Givenchy stood for — especially after her predecessor Riccardo Tisci’s unforgettable 13-year tenure, during which he positioned the brand as a legacy house that dabbled in streetwear, imbuing it with a dark and Gothic edge. According to analysts, Fortunato’s ambition is yet to be made a reality, even though the brand had grown both its physical and digital sales touchpoints over Waight Keller’s tenure. Today, Givenchy needs to be rejuvenated: In both what it stands for when viewed through a modern lens, and how it’s made itself distinct from its peers. And they’ve picked none other than Matthew M. Williams to accomplish the task.
WHY FASHION HAS A NEW BREED OF CREATIVE DIRECTORS
This story is from the April 2021 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2021 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Girl Power
K-pop group STAYC embodies a "Teenfresh" appeal that sends an uplifting message of self-love and authenticity. We caught up with the six-girl band right after their concert in Singapore in this ELLE Singapore exclusive.
To The Château!
Roger Vivier melds classic heritage with contemporary flair for its spring/summer 2024 collection.
On The Road
TISSOT's new PR516 chronograph is a great gift for when your significant other has been a good boy.
Dancing With V-Reality
Creative visionary Blanca Li brings together dance, technology and fashion in a one-of-a-kind virtual reality live performance show-CHANEL couture included.
Destination VUITTON
Louis Vuitton transforms its new Bangkok store into an immersive lifestyle destination and multifaceted luxury experience.
ON THE Scent
The nose is a peculiar thing; fickle, peculiar, and hard to please. But when a delightfully enchanting scent radiates through the air, we can't help but follow its lead. Here are some fragrances that have us bewitched.
IN Conversation
Can poetry and romance thrive in our fast-paced digital age with three-second attention spans? Charmaine Ho finds out through her chat with Van Cleef & Arpels president and CEO Nicolas Bos that they can-and they have.
To the MOON and BACK
Omega's new Constellation Meteorite collection delivers piece of the universe into your hands.
Mass Attraction
From her trailblazing stint at Chloé to designing for Japanese retailer UNIQLO, Clare Waight Keller shows us why she's still a powerhouse to be reckoned with. Here, she shares with us her design philosophy and the power of inclusivity.
Becoming Yoyo
Style savant Yoyo Cao has done much to put Singapore on the fashion map and she's only getting started. She tells ELLE Singapore about always looking forward, and celebrating her official decade as @yoyokulala this September.