Sarah Burton has officially been named Givenchy‘s new creative director. The LVMH-owned brand has selected the British designer to lead the French house as its eight designer since it was founded in 1952. Burton will be responsible for the creative direction of all of the Maison’s Women’s and Men’s collections.
“It is a great honour to be joining the beautiful house of Givenchy, it is a jewel,” Burton said in a statement along with the announcement. “I am so excited to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this iconic house and to bring to Givenchy my own vision, sensibility and beliefs.”
It has been almost one year to the day since Burton announced that she would be stepping down from her role as creative director of Alexander McQueen, a role she held for 13 years. Burton arrived at the fashion house as an intern in 1996, and returned as soon as she graduated, working closely with the house’s late founder, Lee Alexander McQueen. Burton was promoted to head of design for womenswear in 2000 and she was then chosen to take over as creative director after McQueen sadly passed away on February 11, 2010. During her time at the house, she made a huge impact on the global fashion industry, picked up numerous prestigious awards, and was responsible for designing one of the most famous dresses of this generation, Kate Middleton’s wedding gown, which she wore to marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey in London, UK, on April 29, 2011. She showed her final collection for Alexander McQueen for the Spring 2024 season in October 2023.
This will mark a new chapter for Givenchy, and Burton’s appointment is a poetic one, with the designer now taking on a role that was once held by Lee Alexander McQueen, who led Givenchy in the late Nineties.
“Sarah Burton is an exceptional creative talent whose work I have passionately followed for many years. I am very glad that she is joining Givenchy today,” Chairman of the Givenchy board Sidney Toledano shared a statement. “Her unique vision and approach to fashion will be invaluable to this iconic maison, known for its audacity and haute couture. I am convinced that her creative leadership will contribute to the future success and international standing of the maison.”
At the house of Givenchy, Burton succeeds Matthew M. Williams. The LVMH-owned fashion house has been without a creative director since last December, when Matthew M. Williams announced that he was leaving, after three years in the job. Prior to that Clare Waight Keller held the post from 2017 to 2020 (where she was responsible for designing Meghan Markle’s royal wedding gown), and Riccardo Tisci before her, who held the position for 12 years.
Burton’s first collection for Givenchy will be presented in March 2025.
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