Who’s Who – The Creative Directors at the Top Fashion Houses

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of young designers becoming creative directors at top fashion houses. Many of these names are well-established names in the industry, but the younger generation may have a more unique style and a distinct voice. A recent example is the appointment of Clare Waight Keller as the first female creative director of Givenchy. The wedding dress she designed for Meghan Markle was seen by 1.9 billion people around the world.

While there are many examples of talented young designers, the majority of successful creative directors have been around for a long time. One famous designer, Alessandro Michele, has held the role of creative director at Gucci since 2015. The brand has experienced a rise in sales and profits following his appointment in 2015, and he has no plans to step down anytime soon. In addition to being a talented and highly-respected artistic head, Michele is expected to remain at the helm for many years to come.

A successful creative director can help a brand sell itself. A new creative director will bring a fresh perspective to the brand and possibly lots of innovative designs . Each new leader brings their own unique vision and sets of values to the brand. It’s vital that the new creative director has a clear vision of what the brand will look like without them.

Now that we’ve established how important creative directors are for the luxury fashion houses, let’s see who are the masterminds behind the most important brands as of 2021.

1.Chanel

Virginie Viard since 2020

Instagram : @virginieviard

2.Louis Vuitton

Nicolas Ghesquière since 2013

Instagram@nicolasghesquiere 

3. Prada

Miuccia Prada since 1978

(no personal Instagram page)

4. Balenciaga

Demna Gvasalia since 2015

Instagram: @gvasaliaga

5. Gucci

Alessandro Michele since 2015

Instagram: @alessandro_michele

6. Celine

Hedi Slimane since 2018

Instagram @hedislimane

7. Hermès

Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski since 2014

No Instagram profile

8. Fendi

Kim Jones since 2021

Instagram @mrkimjones

9. Givenchy

Matthew Williams since 2021

 

Instagram: @matthewmwilliams

10. Dior

Anthony Vaccarello since 2016

Instagram: @anthonyvaccarello

Choosing a creative director is an important decision for any fashion house. A creative director should be able to inspire the company’s vision and provide the brand with a direction. Furthermore, it is essential that the creative director and the CEO have a good relationship, combining the creative and commercial aspects of any successful brand.

Diversity is also a major point when talking about creative directors of the top fashion houses. From the 11 brands selected for this post, only 4 are led by women – Dior, Hermès, Prada and Chanel. The industry is still shockingly male dominated, so we are hoping that more and more women get a “seat at the table” in the fashion industry.

Do you have a favorite creative director? And if so, who?