After three years at the helm.
News has just broken that Clare Waight Keller is exiting her role at Givenchy. She was the first female to ever head up the storied French luxury brand.
Announcing the news via an Instagram post, Waight Keller wrote, “After three truly wonderful years, the time has come to close my chapter at Givenchy. As the first woman to be the artistic director of this legendary Maison, I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to cherish its legacy and bring it new life.”
She continued, “Focusing on a world based on haute couture has been one of the highlights of my professional journey. I have shared so many incredible moments with the brilliant Givenchy ateliers and design teams: your exceptional talent and dedication will forever remain in my memories.” The designer also thanked the “unsung heroes and heroines behind the scenes” working in product, communications, retail, supply and other sectors.
There is no indication of where she is headed next, however Waight Keller ended the note by writing, “I am now looking forward to embarking on the next episode. Love and creativity remain central to what I do, and who I am, as does a heartfelt belief in kindness, and the courage to be true to your art. See you soon.”
Waight Keller joined the brand in 2017, succeeding Riccardo Tisci. Her aesthetic was markedly different from Tisci’s, and breathed new life into the brand. One of her major milestones at the brand was designing Meghan Markle’s wedding dress for her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Waight Keller continued to create incredible looks for Meghan across her two years as a royal. She was also responsible for reintroducing the brand’s couture line.
Her final collection for the house will be the Fall 2020 collection. No replacement has been named as yet, however the brand told WWD that a new “creative organization” would be revealed at a later date. Watch this space.
