Matthew M. Williams to Leave Givenchy in 2024
The designer plans to shift focus to his brand 1017 Alyx 9SM.
After three years at the helm of the brand, Matthew M. Williams is set to step down as creative director at Givenchy.
On December 1, WWD reported that Givenchy's men's and women's Pre-Fall 2024 collections, which are expected to be released within the coming weeks, will be the designer's final projects with the brand as his finishes out his contract.
“This change will be effective from January 1, 2024,” Givenchy told WWD.
“Leading the creative direction of Givenchy was, as I said upon my arrival in 2020, the dream of a lifetime,” Williams said in the 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.”
However, this news is not the end of Williams' time in the design spotlight. In November, Williams announced a new partnership with Hong Kong-based businessman Adrian Cheng regarding his own brand 1017 Alyx 9SM. The new project is expected to involve investing in high-selling areas like accessories, shoes, and jewelry, as well as establishing physical boutiques.
Per WWD, De Lesquen, president and chief executive officer of Givenchy, praised the designer “for all the energy he brought to Givenchy. His collections, resolutely creative and contemporary, have sparked a new dynamic and found their audience. I join everyone who has had the pleasure of working with Matthew in wishing him every success in his next ventures.”
During his time at Givenchy, Williams reinvented the French maison as a go-to label for fashion It girls despite beginning his tenure in mid-2020 at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. His most successful designs were the Voyou bag and Shark Lock boots, both of which found significant appetite from consumers.