The designer – best known for his brand 1017 ALYX 9SM – has been appointed Givenchy’s seventh couturier, heralding a new era for the house
While the coronavirus pandemic has upended the fashion system and caused the entire industry to reflect upon its practices, one thing which looks set to remain in this “new normal” is fashion’s ongoing game of musical chairs.
This afternoon, Matthew Williams – best known for his brand 1017 ALYX 9SM – has been appointed Givenchy’s new creative director. As the house’s seventh couturier, Williams will follow in the footsteps of designers such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Riccardo Tisci and most recently Clare Waight Keller, who departed the maison in April.
“I am extremely honoured to join the house of Givenchy,” Williams said in a statement. “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,” he continues. “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.”
Born in Chicago and raised in California and New York, Williams began his career in the music industry, working as a creative director, before launching 1017 ALYX 9SM in 2015. Since then, he has achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success for his unique and decidedly modern approach to fashion.
Writing for the Summer/Autumn 2020 issue of Another Man, guest editor Jo-Ann Furniss describes Williams’ work for 1017 ALYX 9SM as: “Practical yet elegant, casual yet somehow formal, matter-of-factly-and-deeply responsible and sustainable without being annoyingly fucking earnest … ”
Williams will present his debut collection for Givenchy as part of Paris Fashion Week in October, and it will be interesting to see how he brings his modern vision to this historic house.
Read Jo-Ann Furniss’ interview with Matthew Williams for the Summer/Autumn 2020 issue of Another Man here.