As the (still) current year draws to a close, the curtain is slowly starting to rise on the fashion industry in the coming months: what will change and who will be its new protagonists? Predictions and bets are already here, also continuing comings and goings of creative directors that we have witnessed in this rich, dense and (above all) exciting 2024.
This year’s sudden changes have demonstrated how (frighteningly?) dynamic the fashion industry has become. Fashion houses are increasingly subject not only to the very rapid alternation of trends, but also to the commercial pressures of large luxury groups, where thehe longevity of a creative director seems to have become directly (and exclusively) proportional to performance of turnovers.
The last twelve months have in fact been the stage for important bets, namely the debuts of Matteo Tamburini at Tod’s, Adrian Appiolaza from Moschino, Alessandro Michele from Valentino, Seán McGirr from McQueen, Chemena Kamali from Chloé and Walter Chiapponi from Blumarine (just enough time for a single collection: the latter then left the baton to his successor David Koma). In short, there has been a lot of change.
And now? It’s good to take stock, considering that the fashion industry of 2025 will give us a lot to chat about.
Fashion houses (still) without creative directors
There is still a hunt for a creative director in three fashion houses that will take place respectively at the Milan and Paris fashion weeks. In the capital of Italian fashion, it is the women’s division of the fashion house Fendi to be temporarily discovered after the departure of Kim Jones: rumors suggest the possible arrival of Pierpaolo Piccioli, although recent rumors would have his former colleague at Valentino, and now creative director of Dior, at the helm of the Maison, Maria Grazia Chiuri.
All is silent even on the Parisian front, where the most talked about (and coveted) seat in the French capital is certainly that of the fashion house Chanel. Who will carry on the stylistic legacy of the now former creative director Virginie Viard? We hope to find out soon (the well-informed whisper that we will know by the end of 2024): in the rich list of eligible candidates, possible or more or less likely in recent weeks, the most accredited name to date undoubtedly seems to be that of Matthieu Blazycurrent creative director of Bottega Veneta (maison to which he would arrive, in his place, Louise Trotterwho would thus abandon the throne from Carven).
Contracts expiring (or just expired)
In recent months, fashion industry gossip has inevitably affected the expiring contract of John Gallianocreative director of since 2014 Maison Margiela of Renzo Rosso’s Otb group. The chatter, which began when the sixty-four-year-old English designer reset the social content of his personal Instagram profile, has found its official confirmation in the last few hours: Galliano is leaving the brand. The question now is where he will go, and who will take his place at the creative reins of the Maison.
At the same time, it seems that Jonathan Anderson’s contracts will also expire in 2025 Loewe (many talk about him as a possible successor to Chiuri at Dior) and that of Lucie and Luke Meier, co-creative directors of Jil Sander (who, in this hypothetical carousel of appointments, could land right from Loewe).
The most anticipated debuts
However, the first collections of the creative directors are highly anticipated as they debut in the months to come. After twenty-six long years of career at McQueen, Sarah Burton she is ready to return. And he will do it while driving Givenchy at Paris fashion week. There is also excitement for the debut of Michael Rider from Celine (after the Heidi Slimane era) and that of Haider Ackermann from Tom Fordafter the very short chapter written by Peter Hawkings. Last but not least, will be the debuts of the talented Peter Copping from Lanvin and Italian Veronica Leoni by Calvin Klein. Last but not least, the “they say” aboutcareer advancement of Julian Klausner have become a concrete reality: the very recent appointment confirmed the Belgian designer as the new creative director of Dries Van Noten. Klausner has gained experience at the house since 2018, and in March he will make his debut as the successor to the brilliant designer who left the house of the same name after 40 years.
Let the countdown begin, we are more ready than ever for the fashion year to come.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
