Chanel Appoints Matthieu Blazy as Creative Director

PARIS (Reuters) – French fashion house Chanel announced on Thursday that it has selected former Bottega Veneta design chief Matthieu Blazy as its next creative director, following months of speculation surrounding this prestigious role.

The selection of Blazy marks a shift in aesthetic for the renowned brand, which is well-known for its tweed jackets, double-C logos, and No. 5 perfume. This decision comes amid challenges faced by the luxury sector as a whole.

The position has remained vacant since the abrupt exit of Virginie Viard in June.

Alain Wertheimer, global executive chairman, and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer, praised Blazy, stating, "Matthieu Blazy is one of the most gifted designers of his generation."

Chanel, the second-largest luxury label after LVMH's Louis Vuitton, is owned by French billionaires Wertheimer and his brother Gerard.

Viard had a nearly thirty-year tenure at Chanel, working alongside the late Karl Lagerfeld before taking over after his passing in 2019.

Last year, Chanel reported a 16% increase in sales, reaching nearly $20 billion.

In related news, Kering has announced the appointment of Louise Trotter as creative director of Bottega Veneta, stepping into Blazy’s previous role. Trotter, who is currently at Carven and has previously worked at Lacoste, will join Bottega Veneta at the end of January.