Los Angeles-born Matthew Williams was announced today (June 15 2020) as French label Givenchy‘s seventh couturier. He will begin work on June 16th and will present his first collection in October.
In a press statement, Williams announced, “I am extremely honored to join the House of Givenchy. The Maison’s unique position and timeless aura make it an undeniable icon and I am looking forward to working together with its ateliers and teams, to move it into a new era based on modernity and inclusivity. I am grateful to the LVMH group for trusting me with the opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream. In these unprecedented times for the world, I want to send a message of hope together with my community and colleagues and intend to contribute towards positive change.”
Williams is the head of 1017 ALYX 9SM, a label he founded in 2015 that boasts successful collaborative efforts with Nike, Moncler and Dior. The label references the name of his eldest daughter and his birth date (October 17, 1985) while 9SM is a reference to his first studio on Saint Marks Place in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan.
Earlier in his career, the 33-year-old Williams worked as a creative director at Donda, Kanye West‘s creative agency. Before launching Alyx, Williams co-founded DJ collective and label Been Trill with Heron Preston, Virgil Abloh, Justin Saunders, Florencia Galarza and YWP.
Sidney Toledano, CEO of LVMH’s Fashion Group, said he first began following Williams design efforts when he was shortlisted for the 2016 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.
Williams follows in the footsteps of designer Clare Waight Keller whose role as Givenchy’s creative director ended in April 2020 when the label chose not to extend her three-year contract. Prior to Keller, Riccardo Tisci led creative direction for the label, which.was founded by designer Hubert de Givenchy in 1952.
Check out a voice note from Williams’ regarding the appointment below.
