Riccardo Tisci Reflects on Menswear Career, Androgyny and His Instagram Followers with WWD

When considering the immense success Givenchy‘s menswear line has garnered since the appointment of Riccardo Tisci as creative director, it’s hard to believe the Italian designer had hitherto done only women’s collections. Asked to helm the menswear line in 2008, the Central Saint Martins alumnus was initially hesitant as he did not want to fail in his daring new venture. Fortunately, audiences were drawn to Tisci’s unique offerings. The imaginative designs, which blended street influences with sexual provocation, helped Tisci become one of the most distinguished players in menswear today, justifiably leading to great commercial success. Celebrating his 10th year at the esteemed French luxury fashion house, the designer discusses a number of topics with WWD, including androgyny in fashion, his influential prints, and his muses. Enjoy the excerpt below and to read more, visit here.

You’ve pushed gender boundaries in men’s wear. Do you think it’s a sign of dynamism in men’s wear?

I think it’s fantastic. Over the last few years, there’s more and more freedom and less of a gulf between women and men, which is great. Women, they have more power, which I love. I’m very feminist, and men as well have less paranoias. There are now fewer taboos in the men’s world. When you go into straight clubs or to the gym, you can find straight men putting together looks that are strong and bold, which I love. Also, men today are taking care of themselves more.

Do you have any male muses, as Italian model Mariacarla Boscono seems to be for women’s? For example, you’ve been dressing Jared Leto, including for the Oscars.

It’s hard to find a Mariacarla in the men’s world because she’s so strong and so unique. But I’ve got a lot of men around me and I really like the way they put clothes together, including people on my design team. I really like the way Matthew Barney dresses, and then, of course, Antony Hegarty is really inspiring for me.