The Manchester-born Fashion East designer is taking the reins of the Italian fashion house
This morning it was announced that Maximilian Davis – the Manchester-born, London-based designer – has been appointed creative director of Italian luxury goods company Salvatore Ferragamo. “I am deeply honoured to be joining Ferragamo, and grateful for the opportunity to build on the rich and profound heritage of the house,” said the 26-year-old designer. “Ferragamo represents a dedication to timeless elegance and sophistication that I find incredibly inspiring. I’m looking forward to articulating my vision, elevated by the codes of Italian craftsmanship, quality and innovation.”
After studying at London College of Fashion and working under Grace Wales Bonner, Davis launched his eponymous brand – simply known as ‘Maximilian’ – as part of Lulu Kennedy’s talent incubator Fashion East for Spring/Summer 2021, with a collection inspired by Davis’ childhood memories of the Trinidad Carnival and his stylish grandmother. Released digitally during the pandemic, a series of slick, colour-soaked images shot by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by IB Kamara introduced a new lexicon of “Black elegance” to the London fashion scene. “I don’t want people to look at it as just beautiful imagery,” Davis told AnOther at the time. “I want them to realise that there is a meaning behind this and there is a message.”
Since then, Davis has shown four critically acclaimed collections with Fashion East that have derived inspiration from ‘Sunday best’ church dressing, Caribbean horse-riding gear, British biker outfits, and more. Earlier this year, Davis was announced as a semi-finalist for the 2022 LVMH Prize, with many predicting that he would win – but he dropped out earlier this month – and this appointment is clearly the reason why. Despite having been in business for under two years, the brand already counts celebrities including Naomi Campbell, Michaela Coel, and Rihanna as fans.
“I am delighted to welcome Maximilian at the House of Ferragamo,” said Marco Gobbetti, chief executive officer of the brand. “The clarity of his vision together with the level of execution and his powerful aesthetic make him one of the most brilliant talents of his generation. His work is defined by elegance, refined sensuality, and constant commitment to quality.” Davis will begin his role at Ferragamo on 16 March (this Wednesday).