Demna Gvasalia is leaving the label he founded in 2014, a role which propelled him to worldwide renown
This morning, designer Demna Gvasalia has announced that he is parting ways with Vetements, the brand he co-founded in 2014.
“Vetements has always been a collective of creative minds. We will continue to push the boundaries even further, respecting codes and the authentic values of the brand, and keep on supporting honest creativity and genuine talent,” Guram Gvasalia, Demna’s brother, who will continue as co-founder and CEO of the label, now based in Zurich, said in a statement. “What Demna has accomplished over the past few years represents a key chapter in the story of Vetements. We are very grateful to Demna for having contributed to the great momentum of the house.”
Gvasalia’s tenure at Vetements – which mined the designer’s Georgian upbringing and youth subculture for inspiration – made the collective one of the most buzzed-about young labels in Paris. Shows were held in offbeat locations: from subterranean gay club Le Depot to Paris’ American Cathedral. Partly responsible for a revival of ‘streetwear’ in luxury fashion – the Vetements hoodie is perhaps the label’s most ubiquitous garment – the role nonetheless propelled Gvasalia to the highest echelons of fashion, becoming creative director of Balenciaga in October 2015. He continues to hold that role today.
“I started Vetements because I was bored of fashion and against all odds fashion did change once and forever since Vetements appeared and it also opened a new door for so many,” Gvasalia himself said. “So I feel that I have accomplished my mission of a conceptualist and design innovator at this exceptional brand and Vetements has matured into a company that can evolve its creative heritage into a new chapter on its own.”
Gvsalia will show his latest collection for Balenciaga, Spring/Summer 2020, this month in Paris.