By Fabiola Banora
Victor Virgile / Getty Images
Matthieu Blazy, former Bottega Veneta creative director, who bent the will of design at the brand to his vision, has been called into Chanel as its new artistic director of fashion activities.
Speculation swirled for months as to who would take what is arguably the most coveted job in fashion. At a time when designers are in high demand and moving through luxury brands at a rapid pace, the news of Blazy joining Chanel feels particularly timely.
Blazy will be responsible for all haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories collections, reporting to Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Fashion and President of Chanel SAS. He is set to join the house in April 2025, once his non-compete agreement expires, with his first collection slated to debut in October.
Blazy is filling big shoes, becoming only the fourth official artistic director in the 114-year history of the brand. He follows in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld, whose great spirit defined much of Chanel’s modern legacy, and succeeds Virginie Viard, who exited Chanel last June after a five-year tenure. Of course, the shadow of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel herself continues to loom large, as the maison’s founder and eternal icon.
Mathieu Blazy's career trajectory is impressive. After graduating from La Cambre in 2007, he gained valuable experience at Raf Simons and Maison Margiela, where he designed the esteemed 'Artisanal' line. He further refined his talent at Céline under the guidance of Phoebe Philo. Following his role at Calvin Klein - where he was reunited with Raf Simons, he joined Bottega Veneta in 2020, eventually assuming the role of creative director in 2021. His debut collection for the house was met with acclaim in February 2022.
Well celebrated amongst his peers and within the industry, Blazy has consistently earned acclaim for collections that celebrate haute craftsmanship and embody a sophisticated, grown-up chic. “His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions,” Pavlovsky said.
It’s a new dawn in the industry, and it’s thrilling to see what Blazy, a man with an impeccable track record, will bring to Chanel. Known for rising to the occasion after Daniel Lee’s sudden exit at Bottega Veneta in 2021, Blazy transformed the brand into one of Milan’s hottest names. Under his leadership, Bottega saw sales rise 4% in the first nine months of 2024, reaching €1.24 billion.
“I am thrilled and honoured to join the wonderful house of Chanel. I look forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together,” Blazy said.
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