In Review 2024: This year's biggest fashion appointments
2024 has seen a lot of change in the fashion and retail industry, most notably the comings and goings of Creative Directors.
But, it finally happened. We can close the year knowing who will take the helm at Chanel (arguably the biggest fashion appointment of the year). This was the swansong appointment to end a year of upheaval among the top spots in fashion.
As we approach 2025, TheIndustry.fashion has curated a list of the most important fashion appointments from the past year.
Moschino crowned Adrian Appiolaza Creative Director
The year kicked off with a bang when storied Italian house, Moschino, announced that Buenos Aires-born Adrian Appiolaza would take the helm as its Creative Director.
He succeeded Davide Renne, who suddenly passed away at the age of 46 last November, just days after he stepped into the role of Creative Director for Moschino.
Massimo Ferretti, Executive Chairman of Moschino’s owner Aeffe Group, said at the time: "Adrian brings with him a unique wealth of experience, creativity, and knowledge of the history of fashion that will be instrumental to write a wonderful new chapter in the adventure of the brand founded by Franco Moschino".
Celine named Michael Rider its Creative Director
Celine named Michael Rider its Creative Director, replacing Hedi Slimane, who departed the luxury brand after seven years at the helm.
Effective in early 2025, Rider will have the entire creative responsibility for all Celine collections, including womenswear, menswear, leather goods, accessories and couture.
Most recently, he was Creative Director at Polo Ralph Lauren, a position he held since 2018 but left in May. He was also previously a Senior Designer at Balenciaga from 2004-2008.
Missoni named new Creative Director as Filippo Grazioli stepped down
In the same week Celine announced its Artistic Director Hedi Slimane was set to be replaced by Michael Rider, Missoni announced Creative Director Filippo Grazioli was stepping down.
According to the Italian knitwear house, Filippo Grazioli stepped down as Creative Director of Missoni after just over two years to pursue "new creative and artistic challenges". He was replaced by Missoni veteran Alberto Caliri, who joined the company in 1998.
Joseph appointed JW Anderson and Christopher Kane alumni as its Creative Director
The newly appointed Creative Director boasts more than 30 years of experience in the luxury fashion industry. Most recently, he was the Director of Product and Design (ready-to-wear, accessories and runway) at JW Anderson. Prior to this, he held similar positions at Nanushka and Christopher Kane.
Arena's first collection for Joseph (Spring/Summer 2026), will hit stores in October 2025.
Givenchy named Sarah Burton as its Creative Director
Givenchy named British designer Sarah Burton as its Creative Director with her first collections for the LVMH-owned house due to be shown in March 2025.
The former Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, and right-hand woman of the late Lee Alexander McQueen, is now responsible for the Creative Direction of all of the women’s and men’s collections at Givenchy. She replaced American designer Matthew Williams who stood down at the start of the year after three years in the role.
Burton had been with Alexander McQueen, owned by LVMH rival Kering, for 26 years initially working alongside its founder Lee Alexander McQueen and then taking over the creative direction after McQueen's untimely death in 2010. She left the house of McQueen in 2023 to be replaced by Irish designer Seán McGirr, amid reports that Kering wanted to take the brand in a more youthful direction.
Haider Ackermann joined Tom Ford as Creative Director
Tom Ford appointed French designer Haider Ackermann as its Creative Director. His first collection will debut at Paris Fashion Week in March 2025.
In his new role, Ackermann will assume the creative leadership across all Tom Ford fashion categories, including menswear, womenswear, accessories and eyewear, while guiding the creative vision for the overall brand.
"I have long been a great fan of Ackermann's work. I find both his womenswear and menswear equally compelling. He is an incredible colourist, his tailoring is sharp, and above all he is modern," said Tom Ford, the luxury brand's eponymous Founder.
Belgian Designer Julian Klausner was named Dries Van Noten's successor
Earlier this year, Dries Van Noten sadly announced he was stepping away from his eponymous label. Finally, this December, Belgian label announced Julian Klausner was promoted to Creative Director.
In a statement made in March, the Belgian fashion designer, 65, said: "In the early ‘80s, as a young guy from Antwerp, my dream was to have a voice in fashion. Through a journey that brought me to London, Paris and beyond, and with the help of countless supportive people, that dream came true.
Harvey Nichols appointed Vogue and former Topshop fashion lead as Creative Director
Luxury fashion and beauty retailer Harvey Nichols announced the appointment of Kate Phelan to the newly created role of Creative Director.
Phelan, one of Britain's most esteemed stylists, is described as "a pivotal figure in the modern British fashion scene".
Her illustrious career is marked by significant roles at British Vogue - as Fashion Director from 1993 to 2012, then as Senior Contributing Fashion Editor to the present day, and Topshop as Creative Director from 2011 to 2017, which "cemented her influence in shaping a globally recognised British aesthetic".
British Modern Couturier Peter Copping leaves Balenciaga to "transform" Lanvin
Lanvin, the oldest continually operating couture house in France, announced the appointment of Peter Copping as its Artistic Director. The British designer became the luxury label's fifth couturier of the decade.
At the time, Peter Copping said: "Jeanne Lanvin was a visionary of her time whose interests and passions extended far beyond fashion, as do my own. I am extremely honoured to have been chosen as Artistic Director of Lanvin and to be able, along with the atelier and teams, to write the next chapter for this iconic house."
Most recently, Copping served as Head of Couture and Head of VIP and Special Projects at Balenciaga.
Bottega Veneta named Louise Trotter as next Creative Director
British designer Louise Trotter is to exit Carven in January, the French heritage house where she has been Creative Director for almost two years, and take over from Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta.
Trotter, whose career has taken in stints at Lacoste, Joseph, Gap and Whistles, has been credited with injecting new life and direction into Carven since she joined. Prior to her arrival the house, originally founded by Carmen de Tommaso or "Madame Carven" in 1945, had had a string of creative directors, including Serge Ruffieux. The brand has been owned by Chinese group Icicle since 2018 and made its return to Paris Fashion Week under Trotter.
Matthieu Blazy confirmed as the next Chanel Artistic Director
After much speculation, Matthieu Blazy was confirmed as the next Artistic Director of Chanel, marking the first external appointment to the role since Karl Lagerfeld was employed to revamp the brand in 1983.
Alain Wertheimer, Global Executive Chairman, and Leena Nair, Global CEO of Chanel, called the designer in a joint statement today “one of the most gifted designers of his generation”.
After Virginie Viard's exit from the role in June, Blazy's name had been on the industry's lips as a possible replacement. The French-Belgian designer served as Creative Director for Bottega Veneta since 2021, following the sudden exit of now-Burberry Chief Creative Officer Daniel Lee. Carven Creative Director Louise Trotter was announced as Blazy's successor at the Italian luxury house on the same day Blazy's Chanel appointment was announced.
