Givenchy Just Appointed This Self-Taught Designer As Its New Creative Director

Givenchy has just announced that Matthew M. Williams has been appointed as the brand's new creative director, effective as of tomorrow (June 16). At just 34, Williams is a self-taught designer who established his womenswear brand, Alyx, in 2015. He quickly caught the attention of many of the fashion industry's power players, thanks to his inimitable mix of contemporary culture references, design skills and a commitment to positive change.

Shortlisted for the LVMH prize for young designers in 2016, Williams restyled his brand to become 1017 Alyx 9SM, which is now a kind of fashion shorthand for good taste. In a statement, he said: 'I am extremely honored to join the House of Givenchy. The Maison’s unique position and timeless aura make it an undeniable icon and I am looking forward to working together with its ateliers and teams, to move it into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity... In these unprecedented times for the world, I want to send a message of hope, together with my community and colleagues, and intend to contribute towards positive change.'

Williams will be responsible for all of the women's and men's collections at the label and no doubt all eyes will be on him as he has big shoes to fill. Waight Keller was the label's first female creative director and, during her three year tenure, she not only developed her own signature boy-meets-girl aesthetic and put her own stamp on Givenchy Haute Couture, she also made headlines across the world when it was revealed that she was the designer responsible for Meghan Markle's royal wedding gown.

'Because it felt so small and intimate up until that point. no one else was involved, it really was just the two of us for so long, I simply didn’t grasp the scale of it,' Waight Keller toldGrazialast year. 'Then on the day, driving through streets and streets lined with people waving, that overwhelming realisation that actually, this is going to be enormous...’

While we wait to see what Waight Keller's next move is, it will be interesting to witness Williams' own vision for the house of Givenchy, and how it may differ from his predecessor's. While Williams is relocating to Paris for his new appointment, he will continue to design his Italian-based Alyx label independently.

SEE: Every Time Meghan Markle Has Worn Givenchy