Say hello to Matthieu Blazy, the new creative director of Chanel

The suspense is over. After months of speculation, now it’s official, Matthieu Blazy is the new creative director of Chanel, who will write the new chapter of the storied French house.

Matthieu Blazy, 40, got one of the most coveted and prestigious jobs in the fashion industry and now will lead Chanel into its new era, where he will oversee ready-to-wear, haute couture and accessories, becoming the third designer to feel in the shoes of the founder Coco Chanel after Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, who left the House abruptly in June. Blazy will start working for Chanel in April and will show his very first collection next October.

Born and raised in the 14th Arrondissement of Paris, the Franco-Belgian designer is a graduate of the prestigious La Cambre fashion school in Brussels (other notable graduates include Anthony Vacarello, Nicolas Di Felice and Julien Dossena), and during his studies, he interned at Balenciaga under Nicolas Ghesquière but also at John Galliano. After his graduation, Raf Simons recruited him as a men's designer in his studio in Antwerp. Then, Blazy went on to master his haute couture skills at Maison Margiela, where he oversaw the experimental “Artisanal” couture line (at the times of Demna Gvasalia), before moving on to Celine as a senior designer under Phoebe Philo. What else is on his CV? A stint at Calvin Klein under Raf Simons, and a job with the artist Sterling Ruby, whom Blazy helped to develop his fashion vision. And then, Daniel Lee called him to be his right hand at Bottega Veneta, where Matthieu Blazy went out of the shadows, becoming the creative director in 2021 when Lee got fired for abusive behaviour.

Why is Blazy the perfect match for Chanel? Known for his discipline and elegance, the designer doesn’t give a lot of interviews and prefers his creations to speak for themselves. He loves arts, has a vision of artisanal crafts (he enjoys and knows how to speak to couture ateliers) and elevated Bottega to one of the hottest brands on the fashion radars, acclaimed by both journalists and customers. Once a classic luxury brand in Kering’s portfolio, now Bottega is every fashionista’s wardrobe and a massive commercial success (Bottega Veneta is the only brand in Kering’s roster that keeps growing) with bestseller bags, crafted from the house’s signature intrecciatowoven leather. He also recently launched a state-of-the-art fragrance collection and a jewellery line, masterfully playing with the codes of the Venetian house, that shows that he has a bigger vision of luxury and could, as Lagerfeld did, work in several directions at the same time. So it’s no surprise that he has been one of the options for Bruno Pavlovsky, Chanel’s president of fashion activities, who has been searching for Virginie Viard’s successor for six months.  

"I am delighted to welcome Matthieu Blazy. I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the House, through an ongoing dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our Maisons d'Art. His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, in an official statement, released on Thursday evening. Alain Wertheimer, Chanel’s global executive chairman, and Leena Nair, its global CEO, in a joint statement are also excited about Blazy’s nomination: “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.”

While Mathieu Blazy posted a touching thank you note on his Instagram for Bottega Veneta teams, saying how grateful he is for “the great adventure”, he also said in an official statement that he is “thrilled and honoured to join the wonderful house of Chanel”, and that he looks “forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together.” And we can’t wait for this next chapter to unfold with his very first show, scheduled for Paris Fashion Week in October.

Courtesy: Miss Tweed

Text: Lidia Ageeva