There is no other game that fashion enjoys more than the game of musical chairs. Think Riccardo Tisci, who just departed Burberry (where will he go next?), Matthieu Blazy and Maximilian Davis who are new to Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo respectively, and more. Regarding upheavals at big luxury brands, fashion fans and industry insiders alike never cease to be surprised. There have been many changes in the last few years, with beloved designers moving from one brand to another or leaving while fans eagerly await their next move. With these big shakeups mean that switches in brand loyalty are almost inevitable.
Out With the Old, in With…
Arguably one of the biggest shocks to hit the industry happened exactly a year ago next month when Bottega Veneta announced it would be parting ways with then-Creative Director Daniel Lee (whose tenure at Burberry was just announced). Blazy’s debut was met with much praise, and he has continued to make his mark at the Heritage Italian House. Though much of Bottega’s current success can be attributed to the road paved by his predecessor, Blazy continues to push boundaries, exploring his vision of Bottega.
Recently, he revived the historic Knot clutch and introduced new silhouettes like the Sardine Bag and the Brick Cassette. Blazy continues to lean into Bottega’s foundation and House history while delivering new iterations of brand signifiers. His paper-like take on the brand’s staple Intrecciato Weave has caught my eye, and more and more, I find myself completely enamored with everything, Bottega.
Suppose I had to pick a close second. In that case, there’s Jonathon Anderson’s work at Loewe, which, while not quite a new vision, remains steadily noteworthy, and there is something to be said about that consistent stability. It will be interesting to see what shifts happen at Burberry under Lee’s direction, but while we wait:
