After months of speculation, Chanel has officially named its new artistic director. Matthieu Blazy, who recently held the position of creative director at the renowned Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta, has been appointed to one of the fashion industry’s most prestigious roles. Blazy is only the fourth head designer of the iconic French fashion house, founded in 1910, following in the footsteps of Virginie Viard, Karl Lagerfeld, and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. For comparison, Dior, which was founded in 1946, has had seven creative directors.
Chanel’s President of Fashion, Bruno Pavlovsky, expressed his enthusiasm for Blazy’s appointment, stating in a press release: “I am delighted with Matthieu’s appointment. I am confident that he will be able to explore the codes and heritage of the House through a continuous dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our Maisons d’art. His audacious personality, innovative approach to creation, and commitment to craftsmanship and beautiful materials will guide Chanel in exciting new directions.”
At 40 years old, Blazy has built a distinguished reputation during his over four years at Bottega Veneta, including three years as its creative director. His collections have garnered praise for their distinctive vision and playful elegance. Blazy’s signature style includes trompe l’oeil effects, such as creating leather that looks like flannel shirts, paper grocery bags, and denim jeans. His creativity has not only been critically acclaimed but also commercially successful, with Bottega Veneta growing its sales in the first half of 2024, while other brands under Kering, like Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, reported a decline in revenue.
Blazy, a Paris-born French-Belgian designer, studied at La Cambre visual arts school in Brussels. His impressive career includes internships at Balenciaga under Nicholas Ghesquière and with John Galliano. After graduating in 2007, he joined Raf Simons’ eponymous label as a menswear designer and later worked with him at Calvin Klein. He also held roles at Maison Margiela and Céline.
Known for his sharp, sophisticated tailoring, abundant use of leather, and unique accessories, Blazy’s style seems a departure from Chanel’s classic quilting and bouclé. However, his appointment not only signals a visual update for the Chanel brand but also appears to be an effort to future-proof the house. In May, Chanel’s CEO, Leena Nair, emphasized the brand’s desire to “shape what’s next” with a long-term vision guiding its strategy.
Virginie Viard, 62, stepped down from her role as artistic director in June after five years, following the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019. However, Viard’s association with Chanel spanned much longer; she began as an intern in 1987 and worked closely with Lagerfeld for three decades, becoming his deputy and described by him as “my right arm and my left arm.”
In a statement, Blazy expressed his excitement about the new role: “I am thrilled and honored to join the wonderful House of Chanel. I look forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together.”
On the same day, Bottega Veneta announced Louise Trotter as its new creative director.
