French maison Chanel has selected former Bottega Veneta creative director, Matthieu Blazy, as its new artistic director of fashion activities. Blazy will be responsible for haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections and will report to Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion and president of Chanel SAS.
Coco Chanel
The 40-year-old designer is due to join the house in the first half of 2025. Blazy succeeds Virginie Viard, a longtime deputy of Karl Lagerfeld who exited the brand in June after five years as artistic director. He becomes the fourth creative director in the history of the 114-year-old luxury brand, known for its tweed suits, quilted handbags and No.5 perfume.
“Matthieu Blazy is one of the most gifted designers of his generation,” Alain Wertheimer, global executive chairman, and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer of Chanel, said in a joint statement. “His vision and talent will reinforce the energy of the brand and our position as a leader in luxury. Under Bruno Pavlovsky’s leadership, we are confident that Matthieu Blazy will continue to shape what’s next and write a new page in Chanel’s creation,” they added.
“Matthieu became an obvious choice for the brand as we came to understand his talent, his personality, his groundedness, his culture,” Chanel’s fashion president Bruno Pavlovsky told BoF. “The interview process was truly inspiring as we grew to know him: his vision for creation, his modernity, his respect for and commitment to products and the women who surround and inspire him.”
Who is Mathieu Blazy?
Born in Paris, French-Belgian designer Mathieu Blazy graduated in a specialised five-year liberal arts programme from La Cambre in Brussels. The school is known for producing notable designers like Julien Dossena of Paco Rabanne, Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent, and Marine Serre.
After internships at Balenciaga and John Galliano, Mathieu Blazy began his fashion career as a menswear designer for Raf Simons. He then joined Maison Martin Margiela, where he worked on the artisanal line and women’s ready-to-wear collections. PS Few know Blazy is responsible for the crystal masks for Maison Margiela, which first gained attention on the Fall Winter 2013 couture runway, and later worn by Kanye West for his Yeezus tour. These masks, intricately embellished with Swarovski crystals, are a cross between fashion and art.
In 2014, Mathieu Blazy moved to Celine as a senior designer under Phoebe Philo. He later transitioned to Calvin Klein, working there from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, he succeeded Bottega Veneta’s creative director, Daniel Lee and was later promoted to creative director in 2021. Now, he’s the newly minted creative director of Chanel, succeeding Virginie Viard.
Chanel continues its upward trajectory
Chanel Fall Winter 2024-25. image: chanel.com
Luxury goods firm Chanel was founded in 1910 by legendary French fashion designer- Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel- in Paris. Her simple elegant designs inspired by menswear and active wear rewrote the maxim of Fashion — particularly the skirt suit, the little black dress and iconic fragrance Chanel No. 5. Today Chanel is a privately held company owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer- grandchildren of Pierre Wertheimer- an early business partner of Coco Chanel.
Per a company release, Chanel delivered record revenues in 2023, with sales up 16 percent at comparable rates to $19.7 billion and operating profit of $6,407 million, an increase of 10.9 percent compared to 2022.
Philippe Blondiaux, Global Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Chanel delivered another strong financial performance in 2023, with double-digit growth across all categories. Sales increased in each of our markets as retail teams continued to nourish relationships with our local clients, while also embracing the continued return of tourist travel around the world.”
“Chanel continues to contribute positively to the environment and the communities in which we operate,” said Leena Nair, Global Chief Executive Officer, Chanel. “Our House Sustainability Ambition outlines our focus on restoring nature and climate, investing in circularity, supporting those in our supply chain and promoting the autonomy of women. We are proud of our new Net-Zero 2040 targets validated by the SBTi, which will underpin the continued transformation of our business.”
Chanel continued to invest in capital expenditure in 2023.This primarily related to the retail distribution network, including the opening of the twin boutique in Milan, the reopening of the flagship in Beverly Hills and the expansion of the Chanel and Moi Les Ateliers. Chanel is also establishing London as a hub for global connection and collaboration for the company, with the signing of a twenty-year agreement for a new global headquarters. With the evolution of technology and AI, investment in information technology remains a priority, ensuring continued development of business operations and innovation in client experience.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
