Exclusive: Matthew M. Williams is leaving Givenchy

Givenchy announced on Friday that Matthew Williams, who has served in the position for three years, is leaving his position as creative director.

Williams's exit from the company will take effect on January 1, 2024, and this month's pre-fall 2024 collections for men and women will mark his final appearances for the brand. The statement states that the studio teams at the house will oversee design until a successor is announced.

Following several recent changes to the creative director ranks, such as new hires at Blumarine, Chloé, Alexander McQueen, and Ann Demeulemeester, Williams is the most recent. Other brands that are in search of new creative directors are Trussardi, whose directors Serhat Işık and Benjamin A Huseby of GmbH left in March, and Moschino, whose director Davide Renne passed away in November, merely ten days after taking over. Tod's announced on Friday that it has hired Matteo Tamburini to fill the position of creative director that Walter Chiapponi, who is currently at Blumarine, left open.

Williams gained notoriety at the LVMH-owned residence for his ability to create sophisticated evening wear, introduce a unique tailoring style, and draw inspiration from the archives. According to the house statement, Williams' creative vision is responsible for "modernizing its entire product range," citing the Voyou bag and U-lock jacket as standout releases. He worked under Kim Jones at Dior Men's before being appointed, and in 2016 he was included on the shortlist for the LVMH Prize. Claire Waight Keller, his predecessor, held the position for three years as well.

“I would like to thank Matthew for all the energy he brought to Givenchy. His collections, resolutely creative and contemporary, have sparked a new dynamic and found their audience. I join everyone who has had the pleasure of working with Matthew in wishing him every success in his next ventures,” said Renaud de Lesquen, president and CEO of Givenchy, in a statement.

According to the press release, the American designer will continue to "fully dedicate himself" to his own brand, 1017 Alyx 9SM. Since Williams launched Alyx in 2015, the company has worked with companies like Nike and Moncler. The company and Adrian Cheng, a businessman from Hong Kong, announced their partnership on November 17.