Italian designer Riccardo Tisci acknowledges the audience at the end of his autumn/winter 2017 show for Givenchy. Photo: AFP

Italian designer Riccardo Tisci leaves Givenchy after 12 years, in third shock departure in a week

Fashion world shocked by third major departure in a week, as creative director leaves French label to concentrate on personal interests and passions

Agence France-Presse

Published: 12:02pm, 3 Feb 2017

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There have been three resignations in the fashion world this week. Chloe is losing its creative director, Ralph Lauren is parting company with its CEO Stefan Larsson, and Italian designer Riccardo Tisci has left Givenchy after 12 years as the French fashion house’s creative director, in order to focus on his “personal interests and passions.”

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Givenchy, in a statement said it was “a joint decision” not to continue the collaboration, and that Tisci had officially left the company on January 31 “after a very successful 12-year partnership.”

The Italian creator revived the flagging label with a mix of street wear and couture, marked by a dark romanticism.

Madonna in a Givenchy outfit with designer Riccardo Tisci at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala in May 2016. Photo: AP

Givenchy chief executive Philippe Fortunato applauded Tisci’s “visionary qualities that led to a strong growth of the brand,” and thanked him for “his outstanding contribution to the international development and appeal” of the fashion house.

Tisci in the same statement, said he maintained “very special affection for the House of Givenchy and its beautiful teams.”

His latest menswear and haute couture collections for Givenchy, part of the French luxury group LVMH, were presented in Paris last month.

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Kendall Jenner wears a creation for Givenchy’s autumn/winter collection. Photo: AP

Givenchy’s next ready-to-wear collection will be unveiled on March 5 at Paris Fashion Week.

Trained at Central Saint Martins, a top arts and design college in London, Tisci arrived at Givenchy in March 2005 as a relative unknown. After founder Hubert de Givenchy left the company in 1995 there was a run of British designers at the fashion house: John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Julien Macdonald.

Bella Hadid wears a creation from Givenchy’s autumn/winter 2017 collection in Paris. Photo: AP

Tisci joins a series of designers who have left major labels recently, with changes in direction also at Dior, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Lanvin and Carven. Three days ago Chloé announced that its creative director Clare Waight Keller was stepping down after six years at the label.

British designer Clare Waight Keller has left Chloé after six years as creative director. Photo: AFP

Givenchy said Tisci’s replacement would be announced soon.

A look from the autumn/winter 2017 women’s collection. Photo: AFP

He thanked Givenchy for giving him a platform to express his creativity over the years, adding: “I now wish to focus on my personal interests and passions.”

A look from Givenchy’s autumn/winter 2017 menswear collection. Photo: AFP

There are some suggestions that the 42-year-old might find a new outlet for his talents with Versace.

He is friends with Donatella Versace, and in 2015 posed for a Versace advertising campaign. The Italian label had no comment.

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