It seems like the end of 2024 is the time for the Creative Director merry-go-round to finally stop, as many vacancies are being filled just in time for the New Year’s Ball to drop.
First, after Virginie Viard unexpectedly departed Chanel way back in June, the iconic fashion house has finally named Matthieu Blazy as its new “artistic director of fashion activities.” Blazy will be a very busy boy, as his responsibilities will encompass haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories. “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,” Blazy said in a press statement. He will make his runway debut for Chanel in October of 2025 during Paris Fashion Week, according to The New York Times.
According to WWD, as late as November, rumors and unconfirmed reports bubbled up that Chanel was courting the French-Belgian designer for the coveted role. Other contenders allegedly included Pieter Mulier, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Jeremy Scott and Marc Jacobs. Blazy certainly brings a strong resume to back up his new appointment: A graduate of Brussels’ La Cambre, he got his start as a men’s designer for Raf Simons in 2007, followed by working at Maison Margiela on its couture line, Artisanal. In 2014, he joined Phoebe Philo-era Celine as a senior designer, and then later reunited with Raf Simons in 2016 at Calvin Klein. But he’s best known for his four-year stint at Bottega Veneta – three as creative director. His departure from the brand was also announced Thursday.
Which begs the question, who will be filling Blazy’s role at BV? Well, according to Fashionista, the brand has already named Carven’s former creative director Louise Trotter as Lee’s successor. She will begin her role at the end of January 2025.
Another ultra famous (and successful) partnership is coming to an end in 2024 – John Galliano has departed Maison Margiela after a decade as the brand’s Creative Director. In late July, Astrid Wendlandt of Paris-based media company Miss Tweed first reported that Galliano chose not to renew his five-year contract with MM. He wrote in a statement posted to Instagram Wednesday, “Today is the day I say goodbye to Maison Margiela.”
He continued, “My heart overflows with joyous gratitude, and my soul smiles…Gratitude to my fashion family for this life-saving creative moment and the safe place we have built together. My teams, whose support has been tender and courageous, have walked with me along this narrow pathway to the here and now…I’ll readily admit I’m demanding and difficult to run with when challenged, but look at what we have built.”
As Fashionista reports, the partnership is certainly ending on a very high note. In January, Galliano’s final show, Maison Margiela Artisanal Spring 2024, broke the internet in several ways. Industry figures and fashion fans praised the presentation’s sculptural, body-modifying designs, use of movement direction, multi-disciplinary staging, technology, doll-like makeup and more. The show reignited a conversation about Galliano’s indisputable creative genius, as the story-driven performance reminded both in-person attendees and livestream viewers about the power of theatricality and world-building in fashion.
With this news, two questions remain: where is Galliano going next? And, who will be Maison Margiela’s next creative director? Galliano was very coy about the answer to the first. “The rumors…everyone wants to know and everyone wants to dream. When the time is right, all will be revealed. For now, I take this time to express my immense gratitude. I continue to atone and I will never stop dreaming. I, too, need to dream.” As for Maison Margiela, a successor has yet to be announced. Stay tuned….
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