Chanel has chosen: Matthieu Blazy is the new creative director. Louise Trotter arrives from Bottega Veneta

Last May, Chanel released its fiscal year 2023 results, which closed with revenues of $19.7 billion, up 15.8 per cent year-on-year. "After three years of exceptional growth for the industry, we are entering a more challenging time," Philippe Blondiaux, Chief Financial Officer of the fashion house founded by Gabrielle Chanel in 1909, had commented at the release of the results.

Born in Paris 40 years ago, Blazy graduated from the Cambre in Brussels and began his career as menswear designer at Raf Simons, before joining Maison Margiela as head of the Artisanal (Haute Couture) and ready-to-wear collections. In 2014, he joined Phoebe Philo at Celine as Woman Senior Designer, before returning to work with Raf Simons at Calvin Klein between 2016 and 2019 as ready-to-wear design director.

Louise Trotter, nuova direttrice creativa di Bottega Veneta

Blazy is leaving the helm of Kering group brand Bottega Veneta, where he had been since 2021, and will be replaced by Louise Trotter, creative director of Carven. The Kering group, which controls the brand, announced the appointment shortly before Chanel's announcement. The designer will start at Bottega Veneta from the end of January 2025.

The Kering group - which reported revenues down 12% in the nine months of 2024 - is reorganising many key roles: in October it appointed Stefano Cantino as CEO of Gucci, in November Cedric Charbit became CEO of Saint Laurent and Gianfranco Gianangeli CEO of Balenciaga.

The position at Bottega Veneta is a strategic one, as the house's revenues recovered in the third quarter, in contrast to those of its flagship brand Gucci: Bottega Veneta totalled €397 million in the third quarter, up 4% (+5% at constant exchange rates). The direct retail segment grew 9% on a comparable basis, led by double-digit growth in North America and Western Europe.

"I am delighted to welcome Louise as our new creative director," says Leo Rongone, CEO of Bottega Veneta. Her aesthetic perfectly combines refined design and sublime craftsmanship, and her cultural commitment is perfectly aligned with the vision of our brand. Through Louise's sophisticated approach, Bottega Veneta will continue to celebrate its heritage and enhance its importance today. I would also like to express my deep appreciation for Matthieu, who has been an extraordinary partner in infusing our brand with desirability, emotional relevance, and intellectual identity. "Louise brings with her a legacy of absolute depth and a fresh perspective to Bottega Veneta's tradition of unparalleled creativity and excellence," added Francesca Bellettini, deputy ceo of Kering and head of brand development. He is the ideal talent to continue, together with Leo Rongone and the Bottega Veneta team, the extraordinary journey begun with Matthieu Blazy, to whom goes my heartfelt gratitude for his visionary creativity".

Trotter's appointment came a day after thenews of John Galliano's farewell to Maison Margiela, the company in the Otb galaxy where he worked for ten years.