How Givenchy Became One Of The Biggest Luxury Fashion Houses In The World
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Established in 1952, The House Of Givenchy is a multinational French fashion and perfume brand known for haute-couture clothing and designer accessories. Currently owned by luxury conglomerate LVMH, the luxury fashion brand was started by Hubert de Givenchy 71 years ago. Now, Givenchy is one of the biggest luxury fashion houses in the world, with its presence in multiple countries and a multi-million dollar revenue.
The House of Givenchy graces the wardrobes of various aristocrats and Hollywood celebrities like Emma Stone, Jay Z, Rihanna, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, etc.
How Hubert de Givenchy Revolutionized The Fashion Industry
Hubert de Givenchy was a designer with high aspirations, and he established The House Of Givenchy in 1952 at the age of 25. As reported by Fashion Capital, he launched his first-ever collection, Les Séparables, which consisted of raw cotton puffy blouses and floaty skirts. Due to financial constraints, Givenchy had to create Les Séparables with men’s white shirt fabric, yet the collection was featured in Vogue and received widespread critical acclaim.
It was in 1953 Hubert de Givenchy would meet actress Audrey Hepburn who would later become the muse of The House Of Givenchy and help reach the fashion house's new heights of elegance. The pair created wonders over the years and designed clothing that altered the perception of beauty. Together, they adopted the era's typical lighter, less constrained fashion. Givenchy’s designs emphasized architectural lines and simplicity as per Luxity. He introduced the shirtdress with a distinctive lantern shape to the fashion industry, which is considered no less than a revolution.
Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn would go on to work for 40 years and would create some of the most iconic outfits in fashion history. The most well-known creation of the duo includes the stunning gown for the 1954 film Sabrina which fetched an oscar nomination for Givenchy in the Best Costume category and another beautiful floral dress that Audrey wore to the 1954 Academy Awards and is often regarded as one of the most popular outfits of the 20th Century. Besides Audrey, celebrities like Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Greta Garbo, and Elizabeth Taylor also started preferring the House Of Givenchy, as reported by Vision Plus.
The Expansion Of The House Of Givenchy
Apart from having excellent design skills. Hubert de Givenchy also had a prolific business mind. In 1957 he collaborated with the face of the House of Givenchy, Audrey Hepburn, to launch a luxury perfume brand called L'Interdit which would later cause ripples in the fashion market owing to its appeal for sophistication and desire. Givenchy’s business kept booming in the subsequent years, and he stepped into the men’s clothing market by establishing a menswear line called Givenchy Gentleman in 1969, as per Brewminate. The new menswear line was a raging success, and Givenchy became the preferred brand for men and women.
Hubert de Givenchy was a very sound businessman who made the House Of Givenchy one of the world's most renowned and respected fashion houses. He intricately understood the potential of branding and was way ahead of his time in branding implementation. He became the first fashion designer to license his name and also the first to put his branding on items other than clothing which included crockeries and hotel draperies. The House Of Givenchy has since reached new heights of success and eventually drew the attention of other giants in the fashion industry. In 1988 the incredible fashion house was acquired by luxury conglomerate LVMH.
The 70-Year-Old Illustrious Legacy
Hubert de Givenchy stepped down as the head of The House Of Givenchy in 1995, almost 40 years after he started the business. He made the House Of Givenchy into a multi-million dollar fashion giant and handed over the reins to John Galliano, who Alexander McQueen and Julien MacDonald followed. The next significant change to the brand would be made by Riccardo Tisci, who completely changed the company's outlook by adopting a fresh look that included touches of dark and sensual romanticism.
Riccardo Tisci ran the House of Givenchy successfully for 12 years, eventually passing on his mantle to Clare Waight Keller in 2017, the first woman to head the fashion giant. And in 2018, Meghan Markle wore a Givenchy gown for her royal wedding. Keller headed the company till 2020 and was succeeded by the capable designer Matthew Williams who runs the company to date. Williams boasts of collaborations with several A-listers like Kanye West and Lady Gaga. High-profile celebrities like Kendal Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Ariana Grande have worn his work in Givenchy.
The House Of Givenchy has become a legacy brand today with 70 years of illustrious history and expertise. Hubert de Givenchy built the House Of Givenchy from the grassroots level. By combining the aura of Audrey Hepburn with his excellent business mind, he made the House Of Givenchy into one of the world's most respected and biggest fashion brands. The House Of Givenchy has expanded to different sectors, including accessories and cosmetics. Renaud de Lesquen currently heads the multi-million dollar company as CEO, and Matthew M. Williams as creative director.
Source - Brewminate, Vision Plus, Luxity, Fashion Capital
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