The top of the month saw the curtain fall on Matthew M. Williams’ tenure at Givenchy, with the Givenchy Pre-Fall 2024 collection marking his final bow. This collection, encompassing both men’s and women‘s wear, serves as a captivating testament to his creative vision, a blend of contemporary flair and timeless elegance.
Williams described his approach as “making clothes for myself, clothes that I feel have a need to exist.” This personal touch resonated throughout the collection, evident in the exploration of familiar silhouettes imbued with subtle twists and turns. Luxurious materials, treated with masterful sartorial technique, adorned windbreakers, half-zips, and work pants, creating pieces that were simultaneously practical and undeniably stylish.
A hallmark of Williams’ reign at Givenchy has been his commitment to technical innovation and functional collaborations. This collection saw him partner with American company Bogs to produce a long-desired vulcanized shoe, showcasing his dedication to pushing boundaries within the realm of footwear. Similarly, the Nfnty hybrid shoe, featuring a novel Pebax sole, further underlined his forward-thinking approach. Notably, Williams played a pivotal role in securing the first-ever shoe patent in LVMH history, a testament to his dedication to pushing boundaries and pioneering new avenues.
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While the men’s and women’s collections remained distinct in their respective identities, both embodied a shared spirit of contemporary sophistication. The women’s wear, in particular, further refined Givenchy’s exploration of contemporary flou, utilizing lace, smokings, polka dots, and Breton stripes to create a distinctly Parisian allure. Bouclé textures, cocoon coats, and other timeless references were seamlessly incorporated, resulting in a collection that felt both modern and deeply rooted in the house’s heritage.
Givenchy CEO Renaud de Lesquen has characterized the house’s mission as “redesigning elegance.” This seemingly straightforward statement belies a complex reality. Elegance, particularly the French bourgeois variety, is inherently subjective and defies easy definition. It cannot be simply recreated by adhering to historical references; true innovation requires pushing boundaries and forging a new path. This is the challenge that awaits Givenchy’s next creative leader, whose identity remains shrouded in intrigue. Williams, meanwhile, can look back on his accomplishments with pride, leaving behind a legacy of innovative design and a brand poised for exciting new beginnings.
Read more: Matthew M. Williams’ era at Givenchy to end on January 1st, 2024
©Photo: Givenchy
