Chanel Selects Matthieu Blazy as New Creative Director
French fashion house Chanel has appointed Matthieu Blazy as its next creative director, the company announced on Thursday. Blazy, former design chief of Bottega Veneta, will lead the brand into a new aesthetic era. The appointment comes amid an industry-wide slump in the luxury sector and follows the abrupt departure of Virginie Viard in June.
Blazy is one of the most gifted designers of his generation, according to Alain Wertheimer, global executive chairman, and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer. The world’s second-largest label after LVMH’s Louis Vuitton, Chanel is owned by French billionaire Wertheimer and his brother Gerard.
Under Viard, who had worked at Chanel for nearly thirty years, the brand saw sales rise 16% last year to nearly $20 billion. Luxury group Kering has appointed Louise Trotter as creative director of Bottega Veneta to replace Blazy. Trotter, currently creative director at French fashion brand Carven and previously in the same role at Lacoste, will join the company at the end of January.