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.jpg) Store inSoHo, Manhattan | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1952; 73 years ago (1952) |
| Founder | Hubert de Givenchy |
| Headquarters | 3 Avenue George V,, France |
Key people |
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| Products |
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Number of employees | 3800 (2018) |
| Parent | LVMH |
| Website | givenchy.com |
Givenchy (US:/ʒiːvɒ̃ˈʃiː/,[2]French:[ʒivɑ̃ʃi]) is a French luxuryfashion andperfume house. It hosts the brand ofhaute couture andready-to-wear clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics ofParfums Givenchy. The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designerHubert de Givenchy and is a member ofChambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Prêt-à-Porter. It is owned by luxury conglomerateLVMH.
In 1952, Hubert de Givenchy founded his own luxury house and launched a new collectionLes Séparables with some floaty skirts and puffy blouses made from raw cotton.[13]
Givenchy achieved critical acclaim withVogue praising his "wonderful first collection" 14. The collection included theBettina Blouse a white shirt named in honour ofBettina Graziani, which was then painted in one ofRené Gruau's works.[14]
The New York Times magazine published an article entitled "A Star Is Born" and l'Album du Figaro also wrote a feature stating that "In one night, Hubert de Givenchy became one of fashion's most famous children with his first collection."[15]
Models such asSuzy Parker andDorian Leigh became muses of the house.[16]
In terms of innovation, he used 'shirting', a raw cotton similar to pattern paper, to create his chic and casual collections.[17]
In 1954, Hubert de Givenchy presented the first shirt dress (which later evolved in to a sack dress in 1957). He was the first high fashion designer to create a luxuryready-to-wear clothing line, called "Givenchy Université", which was produced in Paris using machinery imported from the United States.[18]
In 1956, bothCristóbal Balenciaga andHubert de Givenchy presented their collection in New York during a charity gala in aid of the American hospital in Paris.[19]
In 1969, Hubert de Givenchy launched his fashion line for men, "Gentleman Givenchy". The boutique was opened in November on Avenue George V.[19]
On the advice ofCristóbal Balenciaga, Givenchy developed his licences in the 1970s, in order to protect the Haute Couture collections.[20]
During this period, the House of Givenchy diversified its activities to create shoes, jewellery, ties, tableware, upholstery and kimono. Hubert de Givenchy was chosen to design the interior ofHilton hotels around the world, and even a car (theContinental Mark V).[21]
Hubert de Givenchy was elected the personality of the year 1979 and the most elegant man of the year by The Best Magazine.[22]
In 1982, a retrospective presided by Audrey Hepburn was organized by theFashion Institute of Technology of New York.[23]
The following year Hubert de Givenchy was named « chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur » and in 1985, Jacques Lang, the French minister of the Culture, gave him the Oscar dedicated to the art of elegance during a celebration at the Opera in Paris.[22]
In 1988, Givenchy was bought byLVMH.[24][25]
Hubert de Givenchy left the company in 1995.[citation needed] He was succeeded by a variety of young British creators includingJohn Galliano,Alexander McQueen andJulien MacDonald.
From 2000, the brand’s women’s line was re-named Givenchy, from Couture Givenchy. The Gentleman Givenchy men’s wear line was named Givenchy.[26]
The reins for both collections were passed on toRiccardo Tisci in 2005 when he was named artistic director of womenswear. Tisci introduced his own style and influences, changed the house codes, and added a touch of dark and sensual romanticism.[27]
Philippe Fortunato, the former chief operating of LVMH Moet Hennessy Vuitton SA – China, is the current Chief Operating at Givenchy.[28]
Givenchy designs have been worn by a number of celebrities on red carpet occasions, includingRooney Mara at the 2012 Academy awards. Also responsible for working with Madonna designing her costumes for her Sticky & Sweet tour as well as the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show.[29]
In February 2017,Riccardo Tisci announced that he would be leaving Givenchy, after twelve years working as the brands Creative Director.[8]
From May 2017 until April 2020, itsartistic director wasClare Waight Keller, the first woman to hold that position.[30]
The House of Givenchy announced the appointment ofClare Waight Keller as artistic director, effective 2 May 2017. Waight Keller took on all creative responsibilities, including Women's and Men's Ready-to-wear and accessories collections, as well as Haute Couture.[9]Meghan Markle wore agown from Claire Waight Keller at herwedding toPrince Harry on 19 May 2018.[31]
After successfully running three consecutive combined shows under the assistance of Keller, the brand announced to bring back the menswear collection calendar for the autumn/winter 2019 season.[32]
In June 2020, Givenchy announced the hiring ofMatthew Williams, a stylist and designer best known for co-founding the influential streetwear brand 1017 ALYX 9SM.[10] Williams brought an edgier aesthetic to Givenchy, with his work often seen on celebrities such asKendall Jenner andBella Hadid.[33] The commercial and critical response to his work at Givenchy was mixed, withCarine Roitfeld saying she could not identify the Givenchy woman; "it's not a strong DNA."[34] In November 2023, Givenchy announced that Williams will be departing the creative director position at the end of 2023.[11]
In July 2024, Alessandro Valenti is appointed as CEO succeeding to Renaud Lesquen.[35][36][37]
British designerSarah Burton was appointed creative director of the house in September of 2024.[12] Her first collection for the house was shown in March 2025, with publications includingThe New York Times,[38]L'Officiel USA,[39] andInterview saying that Burton reinterpreted and updated the houses heritage for the contemporary woman withThe New York Times saying that she "excised the ghost of Audrey [Hepburn] (…) and replaced her with a different kind of woman".[40]The Independent stated that the show was a reset for the brand which had been struggling to find its footing in recent years.[41]
In 2001, Givenchy entered into licensing agreements with De Rigo for eyewear and with Rossi Moda for shoes, respectively.[42]
In 2000, Givenchy decided to discontinue Vision, its secondary collection formerly known as Boutiques Givenchy.[43]
In 1953, Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy met by the intermediary of Gladys de Segonzac in a way to create her costumes forSabrina by Billy Wilder. As Gladys de Segonzac had organized the meeting with 'Miss Hepburn', the fashion designer thought that he was going to receive Katharine Hepburn. Dressed in a pink and white gingham privateer, a T-shirt and a gondolier hat, the British actress received some prototypes of the future collection. Audrey Hepburn decided to wear Givenchy clothes on and off the screen, such as inSabrina (1954),Love in the Afternoon (1957),Funny Face (1957),Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961),Charade (1963),Paris When It Sizzles (1963),How to Steal a Million (1965) andBloodline (1979).[44][45]
Givenchy attracted many other celebrities, including the likes ofLauren Bacall,Babe Paley,Michael Norman,Greta Garbo,Elizabeth Taylor,Marlène Dietrich,Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis,Beyoncé Knowles,[46]Princess Grace of Monaco,[47]Michèle Bennett,[48] and evenWallis Simpson, for whom he created some special garment bags to keep the duchess's orders from being viewed by other clients. The collection of attire (dress, coat, perfume, etc.) furnished for Simpson would later become known as 'blue Wallis'.[49]
Today, Givenchy dresses many Hollywood stars, includingCate Blanchett,Emma Stone,Lady Gaga,Julianne Moore,Julia Roberts,Rooney Mara, and others.[50] In May 2019, Givenchy confirmed that singerAriana Grande would be the new face of its Fall and Winter campaign that was unveiled that July.[51][52]On February 10, 2021, K-pop groupAespa became its ambassador, making the group the first K-pop artist chosen as such by the French fashion house.[53]
On February 3, 2025, Japanese boybandNumber_i'sYuta Jinguji was appointed as ambassador for the Japanese "Givenchy Beauty" brand.[54][55]
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As of 2013, the company's operations were divided between: "Europe accounts for 42 percent of the business, China 18 percent, Asia-Pacific 14 percent, America 12 percent, the Middle East 7 percent, Japan 4 percent, and the rest of the world 3 percent."[56]
For its advertising campaigns, Givenchy has been working with photographers likeRichard Avedon (1997),Steven Meisel (1998),Craig McDean (1999),[57]David Sims (2000),[58]Annie Leibovitz (2001),Mario Testino (2003),[59]Inez and Vinoodh (2007)[60] andKacper Kasprzyk (2024).[61] The Fall 2010 collection from Givenchy andRiccardo Tisci featured atransgender person for the first time.[62]
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