Riccardo Tisci Celebrates 10 Years at the Helm of Givenchy
The creative director speaks to ‘i-D’ about his muses, vision, misconceptions about him, and the “GGirl.”
Riccardo Tisci is marking a decade at the forefront of French fashion house Givenchy this year, and for the occasion, the creative director talks to i-D for the publication’s 35th anniversary, also commemorating the milestone with a limited edition cover. Tisci is known for his dark and brooding designs, which has garnered him critical acclaim, allowing him to count some of the world’s most influential people as muses. Just to name a few, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Madonna, and JAY Z are all known fans of the brand and friends of Tisci. However, as his designs and vision for Givenchy shot to the forefront of fashion, the designer found himself a little misunderstood. ”Everybody says I’m the king of darkness, the king of goth, but at the end of the day I’m quite a sweet dreamer. I’m obsessed with cartoons and romance,” and then we remember his use of cartoon characters, most notably in the Bambi-adorned apparel that no one could escape. Inspired by dichotomies — light and dark, good and bad, Tisci has refined his vision in a way that has established him as one of the designers that we will always remember. To learn more about the designer and the brilliant mind behind the behemoth luxury brand, head over to i-D.
In the ten years Tisci has been designing Givenchy, his vision of his ultimate muse, the “GGirl” has crystallized: “Of course I’m attracted by beauty like everyone else. but I’m more attracted by intelligence. I’m very feminist.” Physically, there’s a type, quite inspired by his longtime best friend Mariacarla Boscono (and personified by current consort, Kim K). “The ‘GGirl’ is intense, big eyes, and deep,” he says. “You have to give a sensuality and intelligence and a sense of confidence.” In a way, he’s still that cartoon-fixated child, creating Disney princesses for the red carpet. Let’s not forget his blockbuster Bambi collection of autumn/winter 13, so successful its designs are still in production.
