After six months without a head designer, Chanel announces Matthieu Blazy as the couture fashion House’s newest creative director. Blazy, who will make his debut next October at Paris Fashion Week, will lead all couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections born out of the House. 

One of fashion’s shiniest crown jewels, Chanel has remained without a creative lead for six months. Nearly every top designer from the industry flocked to apply for the coveted role ー former Céline designer Hedi Slimane, Thom Browne, Jacquemus and John Galliano, even Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, founders of the Row, were all floated as contenders for creative director of camellias and quilting. 

According to Bruno Pavlovsky, President of CHANEL Fashion and Chanel SAS, Matthieu Blazy emerged as a clear front-runner poised to usher in a new era of Chanel. Born in Paris in 1984, Blazy graduated from the crème de la crème of visual arts education, Brussels’ La Cambre. He began his career as a Men’s Designer for Raf Simons before joining Maison Margiela, taking charge of the brand’s ‘Artisanal’ couture line and ready-to-wear collections. In 2014, Blazy joined Phoebe Phil at Céline as a Senior Designer, and enlisted with Raf Simons at Calvin Klein from 2016 to 2019. He has been creative director at Bottega Veneta since 2021. 

“I am delighted to welcome Matthieu Blazy,” says Pavlovsky. “I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the House, through an ongoing dialogue with the Studio, our Ateliers, and our Maisons d’art.” In fact, Blazy will not only play, he will reinvent. At a time when modern fashion markets are saturated and an onslaught of trends lurk around each corner, Blazy will steer Chanel in a new direction fit to withstand the industry’s tests of time. With its iconic bouclé and double C’s, Chanel has prevailed as the luxury brand of an elegance past and a gentility present. Blazy’s appointment ensures the House will remain a beacon of a timelessly refined tomorrow. 

As Pavlovski puts it, “His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to Creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take CHANEL in exciting new directions.”