Riccardo Tisci’s tenure at Givenchy was one of the most influential periods in the brand’s history. Tisci, who sat at Givenchy’s helm for over a decade, from 2005 to early 2017, revolutionized the brand and, under his reign, introduced handbag hit after handbag hit.
Riccardo Tisci’s Givenchy Era
It-bags such as the Pandora, Nightingale, and the iconic Antigona can all be traced back to Tisci’s era, along with one bag that, IMHO, did not receive nearly as much love as it deserved. Yes, I’m talking about the Givenchy Horizon bag.
Introduced for the Fall 2016 season, the Givenchy Horizon bag had all the makings of a hit, and its sudden ubiquity made it clear that the House hoped to see the Horizon reach the incredible It-status of its sister bags like the Pandora, Antigona, and Nightingale.
The top-handled Horizon bag, defined by its simple yet sleek shape and banded details, felt on par with other hits from that era, like the Celine Luggage Tote and the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour.
Givenchy Debuts the Horizon
Givenchy too fully believed in its ability to succeed the Antigona, and when the Horizon debuted, it was introduced in two sizes and an array of fabrications, including leather, suede, and crocodile. The Horizon in croc was shown on the runway that season, worn crossbody with its longer strap—a true indicator of the era.
Still, despite the big push that Givenchy put behind the Horizon, it was never destined for success, having been introduced at a crossroads for the House.
In January of 2017, seven months after the Horizon first dropped in stores, Givenchy announced that Tisci would be taking his final bow, leaving behind an immeasurable number of fashion moments.
Unfortunately, the Givenchy Horizon was quietly discontinued as the brand entered its transitional period under new creative leadership. Had the cards been laid out differently, the Horizon had the potential to see incredible commercial success and likely would have been the It-bag that Givenchy had bet on.
Today, the Horizon is readily available on the resale market. Do you remember the Givenchy Horizon bag?
I took a look at Givenchy’s website. Basically none of the new bags have been successful since Tisci’s time. The Antigona line is still the most popular, with a wide range of new versions. Who has ever bought the Snatch, Pinch, and Voyou (horrible) bags?