Chanel names Bottega Veneta’s Matthieu Blazy artistic director; John Galliano’s goodbye

Matthieu Blazy, the former Bottega Veneta creative boss, ‘embodies a new generation with sincere humility’, says Chanel’s fashion president

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From left: John Galliano, Matthieu Blazy and Louise Trotter. Blazy is to work at Chanel, Trotter will take his place at Bottega Veneta, and Galliano has quit Martin Margiela. Photos: AFP, Getty Images

Agence France-Presse,Tribune News ServiceandAssociated Press

Published: 5:15pm, 13 Dec 2024Updated: 2:19pm, 14 Dec 2024

French luxury brand Chanel has named former Bottega Veneta creative boss Matthieu Blazy as its new artistic director, one of the biggest jobs in fashion, where he will be tasked with finally turning the page on the Karl Lagerfeld era.

Blazy, 40, will be replaced at Bottega Veneta by British designer Louise Trotter, currently director of French brand Carven. Meanwhile, John Galliano, one of the biggest names in fashion, is leaving Martin Margiela after a decade as creative director of the French fashion house.

The Franco-Belgian Blazy had worked for Maison Margiela, Celine and Calvin Klein before joining Bottega Veneta in 2020 and quickly taking charge of its haute couture.

“Matthieu embodies a new generation with sincere humility and, in his approach to the brand and to clothes designing in general, with a huge respect and passion for the product,” Le Figaro newspaper quoted Chanel fashion president Bruno Pavlovsky as saying.

Virginie Viard (right), who was Karl Lagerfeld’s (left) long-time muse, announced her departure from Chanel in June after five years as creative chief. Photo: AFP

Italian top model Vittoria Ceretti (front) leads a presentation of Chanel women’s ready-to-wear spring/summer 2025 fashions at Paris Fashion Week in October 2024. Photo: AFP

Chanel has been seeking a new creative chief since Virginie Viard, Lagerfeld’s long-time muse, announced her departure in June after five years in the job.