'I am honoured and delighted to be joining Burberry as its new Chief Creative Officer,' Riccardo Tisci announced today as he confirmed he is to replace Christopher Bailey at the British fashion house.
As talk of London Fashion Week’s falling relevance in the international collections clattered on, Burberry pulled this substantial coup. Following the announcement last October that Bailey would be stepping down as Chief Creative Officer after 17 years at the brand, there were many rumours about who take up the reins. Many assumed it would Phoebe Philo’s next move after departing Céline in December, or Kim Jones’ after leaving the position of Creative Director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear. But, in fact, these rumours amounted to nothing and instead of investing in a British-born designer, Burberry has appointed the Italian creative best known for his A-Lister adored work at Givenchy.
In a statement Marco Gobbetti, CEO of Burberry said: 'I am delighted that Riccardo is joining Burberry as Chief Creative Officer. Riccardo is one of the most talented designers of our time. His designs have an elegance that is contemporary and his skill in blending streetwear with high fashion is highly relevant to today’s luxury consumer. Riccardo’s creative vision will reinforce the ambitions we have for Burberry and position the brand firmly in luxury.'
Grazia Riccardo Tisci Givenchy
1 of 5Riccardo Tisci Givenchy
After graduating from Central Saint Martins, Tisci launched his own label off-schedule during Milan Fashion Week to much fanfare. It was a mere year later that Givenchy offered him the role as Creative Director of womenswear. During his tenure (2005-2017), he transformed Givenchy into a modern, rule-breaking space.
2 of 5Riccardo Tisci Givenchy
3 of 5Riccardo Tisci Givenchy
The outstanding craftsmanship of his haute couture collections was levied against Instagram-friendly ready-to-wear that made fast fans out of Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Carine Roitfeld and Liv Tyler. It was graphic hits like his rottweiler tee and Bambi mash-up that pushed his name into the mainstream. And, it was collaborations with Nike, Marina Abramovic and designs for Rihanna, Beyonce and Jay-Z's tours that showcased his versatility.
4 of 5Riccardo Tisci Givenchy
5 of 5Riccardo Tisci Givenchy
What Burberry needs after Bailey’s exit isn’t just a fresh-face, but a crowd-pleasing name that will draw the glitz, glamour and elite back to LFW. All signs suggest Tisci has that power in him.