The former Alexander McQueen designer is headed to the storied French house
After a period of relative calm in fashion’s game of designer lottery, things have certainly begun to ramp up recently. Within the space of a week we’ve seen Haider Ackermann appointed as Tom Ford’s new creative director, Glenn Martens’ shock exit from Y/Project, and now a third big change has just been revealed. The former Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton has been announced as Givenchy’s new creative director, ending almost 12 months of speculation of where she might end up at next. The designer will be responsible for the creative direction of all of the maison’s men’s and women’s collections, effective immediately.
“It is a great honour to be joining the beautiful house of Givenchy, it is a jewel,” said Burton in a statement released in the early hours of Monday morning, September 9. “I am so excited to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this iconic house and to bring to Givenchy my own vision, sensibility and beliefs.” Burton will meet with the house’s ateliers in Paris this week, and her first runway collection will take place in March 2025. Her predecessor, the American designer and 1017 ALYX 9SM founder Matthew Williams, left the house in December 2023 after three years at the helm.
It was in September 2023 that Burton exited Alexander McQueen after 13 years as creative director, and a total of 26 years at the brand. Last September’s SS24 runway was an emotional affair that saw Naomi Campbell close the show while wiping away tears, and Burton receive a rapturous standing ovation. Over her time at the label, the designer was lauded for translating her predecessor’s powerful and striking creations into commercially successful clothing, while still retaining the ethos of his early work. Burton took over from Lee McQueen in 2010 after his death, and before then had worked by his side since 1997. At Givenchy, Burton will once again be following in the footsteps of the late McQueen, who was famously recruited to the label from 1996 to 2001.
On her new appointment, Givenchy chairman Sidney Toledano said, “Sarah Burton is an exceptional creative talent whose work I have passionately followed for many years. I am very glad that she is joining Givenchy today.” Elsewhere, he added that, “her unique vision and approach to fashion will be invaluable to this iconic maison, known for its audacity and haute couture. I am convinced that her creative leadership will contribute to the future success and international standing of the maison.”
The newly appointed Givenchy CEO Alessandro Valenti, echoed his colleagues sentiments, saying “the arrival of Sarah Burton as head of our creative design is a very exciting moment for Givenchy. Her remarkable career path and creative vision have already won her a vast fan base, and we are certain that under her direction, Givenchy will continue to innovate and captivate an extensive audience across the world stage.”