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Matthieu Blazy confirmed as next Chanel Artistic Director

Katie Ross
12 December 2024

After much speculation, Matthieu Blazy has been 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”. “His vision and talent will reinforce the energy of the brand and our position as a leader in luxury. Under Bruno Pavlovsky’s [Chanel's President of Fashion] leadership, we are confident that Matthieu Blazy will continue to shape what’s next and write a new page in Chanel’s creation,” they said.

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 earlier today.

Blazy joined Bottega Veneta in 2020 as Design Director, before taking the reins as Creative Director. Blazy's Bottega is a resilient one, being Kering's top performing fashion brand amid a luxury slowdown. Sales were up 4 per cent in the first nine months of 2024 to €1.23 billion (£1 billion).

The appointment succeeds Viard’s five-year tenure as Creative Director, a role she assumed following Karl Lagerfeld’s death in 2019. Since Viard’s departure was announced, speculation over her successor has been rife. Names such as Hedi Slimane, John Galliano, and Simon Porte Jacquemus were frequently mentioned, while Marc Jacobs openly expressed his interest in the position.

Established in 1910 by milliner Coco Chanel, Chanel has demonstrated strong resilience during the economic downturn. While consumer weakness has slowed growth in China and intensified competition for customer loyalty, Chanel’s revenues increased by 16 per cent year-on-year, reaching $19.7 billion (£15.5 billion) in 2023.

Blazy will take up post at the French luxury house in 2025.


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