Givenchy

Givenchy is a French luxury house founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy. His 'separates' met with enormous success when compared with the constricted looks of the time. Spare lines, slender hips, slim silhouettes and the shirt-dress won over the A-list set. Bought by LVMH in 1988, the House is headquartered in Paris.

Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy was born on February 21, 1927. His parents provided his brother and him with an aristocratic life. After his father passed away in 1930, Givenchy was raised by his mother and maternal grandmother. In 1944, Givenchy moved to Paris, where he studied art at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Though he considered a career in law, he decided to enter the world of fashion. 

At Seventeen, Givenchy began an apprenticeship with designer Jacques Fath and then worked for French couture houses like Lucien Lelong, Robert Piguet and Elsa Schiaparelli. In 1952, Givenchy founded his.eponymous luxury fashion brand and launched its first collection, ‘Les Séparables’ marked by floaty skirts and puffy blouses made from raw cotton. The Bettina Blouse- a white shirt named in honour of Bettina Graziani painted in one of René Gruau's works- was an instant hit!

Per Vogue: "Givenchy was taken under the wing of the Spanish master Cristóbal Balenciaga and afterward his work became less obviously youth oriented. He and his mentor were described by The New York Times as "undisputedly the world's most prophetic designers." During this era he introduced… the revolutionary chemise… the princess silhouette and when the cinematic sprite Audrey Hepburn first donned Givenchy's Little Black Dress his name became forever linked with the Sabrina neckline."

Givenchy innovated fashion by using 'shirting': raw cotton similar to pattern paper to create his chic casual collections. In 1954, he presented the first shirt dress which later evolved into a sack dress in 1957. He was the first fashion designer to create a luxury ready-to-wear clothing line -Givenchy Université- which was produced in Paris using machinery imported from the United States.  

That year the House expanded its product portfolio with the launch of its first fragrance L’Interdit: a product of the legendary friendship between Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn. Since Givenchy fragrances have continued to cultivate elegance and boldness. In 1969 Hubert de Givenchy launched his fashion line for men: Gentleman Givenchy. In ac milestone moment Givenchy opened his first boutique on Avenue George V. And in the Seventies he developed licenses in order to protect his haute couture collections. 

Luxury conglomerate LVMH Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy acquired the house of Givenchy in 1988 and Givenchy stepped down in end-1995 after presenting his final collection. He was succeeded as head designer by John Galliano with Alexander McQueen and Riccardo Tisci following suit. In 2005 Italian designer Riccardo Tischi became Creative Director.  Per BoF: "Impressively the designer crafted distinct brand identities for all of Givenchy's product categories across women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and haute couture lines."

In 2017- however- Tisci was succeeded by Clare Waight Keller who had spent the previous six years at Chloé. Acclaimed for her elegant suiting and red carpet dresses.. she became famous when Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in a wedding gown designed by Keller. In another corporate reshuffle in June 2020, Givenchy appointed Matthew M. Williams as Creative Director of women's and men's collections. Per WWD: "While perhaps best known for his rollercoaster buckle and collaborations with Nike, Moncler and Dior, Williams, 34, is seen as a driven, versatile fashion talent with a sharp vision, strong cultural and artistic connections, and formidable technical chops."

"Legacy is an inspiration and audacity the expectation. Whether a couture collection or beauty line, Givenchy is synonymous with irreverent elegance."

Givenchy's vision for the creative catalysts and tenacious dreamers and those who defy convention is the celebration of ingenuity and empowered singularity. This is the timeless and avant-garde vision of Givenchy.

Ready to wear for men and women- accessories- shoes- beauty products- fragrance