Bottega Veneta has announced its new creative director following the shock departure of Daniel Lee last week. The new creative director is Matthieu Blazy, who had previously served as Bottega Veneta’s RTW Design Director after joining the Kering-owned house in 2020. Blazy’s first collection as creative director will be presented in February 2022.

Blazy’s career began with his graduation from Brussels’ La Cambre, before he started working as a Men’s Designer for Raf Simons. Following that appointment, Blazy joined Maison Martin Margiela to work on the “Artisanal” line and the women’s RTW show, before joining Celine as Senior Designer in 2014 and then reuniting with Raf Simons during his tenure at Calvin Klein in 2016.

Announcing the appointment, Bottega Veneta CEO Leo Rongone said, “Matthieu Blazy is an extraordinarily talented individual, whom I am proud and excited to entrust with the creative helm of our luxury House. Bottega Veneta has always been equated with signature craftsmanship and distinctive creativity. Matthieu’s appointment will further enhance the modern relevance of our brand and accelerate our growth, while preserving the values that are at the core of Bottega Veneta.”

Kering Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault also released a statement on Blazy’s appointment, saying, “The very solid foundations, specific codes and unique identity of Bottega Veneta enable us to nurture great ambitions for the future of this luxury House. I am confident that Matthieu Blazy’s wealth of experience and broad cultural background will allow him to bring his creative impetus to the task of carrying on the legacy of Bottega Veneta.”

In other fashion news, Gucci and Balenciaga have finally released their Hacker Project.