Matthew M Williams Is Leaving Givenchy
A position he held for four years.
Givenchy has announced that Matthew M Williams is set to exit as its creative director — a role the Illinois-born designer has held for four years.
With Williams’ departure set for January 1, the LVMH-owned luxury house sees another period of uncertainty. Under the tutelage of Williams and recent creative directors Riccardo Tisci and Clare Waight Keller, Givenchy has struggled to find steady footing in the luxury sector. Although LVMH doesn’t not reveal sales figures for its individual brands, it is suspected the numbers have waned due to Givenchy struggling to retain its popularity.
“I don’t believe Givenchy is on the front foot and may well be below the pre-pandemic revenue level,” analyst Luca Solca told The Business of Fashion.
With Williams at the helm, Givenchy saw a fusion of the designer’s signature knack for punk-laden streetwear and tailoring-oriented style notes. With an inherent edgy core, Williams parted new notes for fashion for the house. However, it was not enough to propel Givenchy back into the limelight.
“Leading the creative direction of Givenchy was, as I said upon my arrival in 2020, the dream of a lifetime,” Williams said in a statement. “Over these three years, I have strived to perpetuate Mr. Hubert de Givenchy’s legacy while bringing my own creative vision and I would like to sincerely thank the studio, Renaud de Lesquen, and LVMH for this incredible opportunity.”
Stay tuned for updates about Williams’ successor at Givenchy.
