The iconic fashion house Chanel has finally appointed Matthieu Blazy as their latest Art Director. Blazy is a 40-year-old Franco-Belgian designer with a reputation for innovation and quality. He has worked as a creative director at Bottega Veneta and under Phoebe Philo’s mentorship at Raf Simmons, Maison Margiela, and Celine.
“I am thrilled and honored,” Blazy said in a statement on Thursday after Chanel released the news. The son of a Parisian art expert, Blazy has always expressed interest in the art of fashion. He attended La Cambre fashion school in Brussels and interned with Balenciaga and John Galliano.
Blazy is the fourth designer to lead Chanel in the fashion house’s 100-year history. He will follow in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld, Virginie Viard, and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Lagerfeld served a significant tenure with the company, spending 36 years at the helm until he died in 2019. He was succeeded by Viard, who had spent 30 years with the brand but left abruptly after just five as the Art Director. She announced her departure in the middle of the night, weeks before the couture show.
Viard faced intense criticism for her designs, with many often claiming her work lacked the same theatrical flare the house had become known for under Lagerfeld. Chanel leadership hopes Blazy can help the house recover by blending modernity with the brand’s heritage.
“[Matthieu Blazy] is one of the most gifted designers of his generation,” Chanel CEO Leena Nair said in a statement. While he has big designer shoes to fill, many in the fashion world are excited to see what Blazy will create.
