Matthieu Blazy

Summary

Matthieu Blazy is the artistic director of Chanel and former creative director of Bottega Veneta where his collections celebrated the maison’s Italian heritage and craftsmanship, material innovation and rich cultural references.

Biography

Matthieu Blazy was born in 1984 in Paris, France, into an environment surrounded by art, design, and cultural expression. His father was an art expert and his mother a historian and researcher. After graduating in a specialised five-year liberal arts programme from La Cambre in Brussels, known for producing notable designers like Julien Dossena of Paco Rabanne, Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent, and Marine Serre, French-Belgian designer Mathieu Blazy interned at Balenciaga and John Galliano, and began his career as a menswear designer for Raf Simons.

Raf Simons was a member of the jury of Blazy’s graduate collection and hired him immediately. In 2011, Blazy became a designer at Maison Margiela, leading the studio after founder Martin Margiela’s exit. In July 2014, Suzy Menkes revealed Blazy after the presentation of Margiela’s Artisanal collection, stating “you can’t keep such a talent under wraps.” He then made headlines for designing the jewel encrusted mask worn by Kanye West during the 2013 Yeezus tour!

In November 2014, Blazy moved to Celine, where he was senior designer under Phoebe Philo , before joining Raf Simons at Calvin Klein from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, Blazy joined Bottega Veneta as Ready-to-Wear Design Director and rose to Creative Director in 2021. Here he introduced the trompe-l’œil denim leather pants, the intrecciato-woven handbags Kalimero and Andiamo, and the knitted leather sock-slippers. And, was named the “Magician of Milan” by Vanessa Friedman. He restored emphasis on artisanal techniques, including leatherwork, and his body of work contributed to global interest in craft-led fashion, positioning Bottega Veneta as a leader in contemporary design.

Per BoF: “As creative director of Bottega Veneta since November 2021, Blazy has become known for runway collections that put cutting-edge craft in the spotlight, as well as a kaleidoscopic mix of references to art, design and cinema. Creating surprising garments from inspirations as banal as an oxford shirt or jeans — using ultra-realistic trompe-l’œil effects to render those casual sportswear staples in printed leather, for example — was one of Blazy’s signatures.” In December 2024, Bottega Veneta announced Blazy’s departure.

His appointment as Artistic Director of Chanel marks a milestone in his career and positioned him at the helm of one of the world’s most influential fashion houses. Blazy succeeds Virginie Viard, a longtime deputy of Karl Lagerfeld who exited the brand in June after five years as artistic director. “Matthieu Blazy is one of the most gifted designers of his generation” Alain Wertheimer, global executive chairman, and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer of Chanel, said in a joint statement. “His vision and talent will reinforce the energy of the brand and our position as a leader in luxury. Under Bruno Pavlovsky’s leadership, we are confident that Matthieu Blazy will continue to shape what’s next and write a new page in Chanel’s creation.”

Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel Fashion and subsidiary Chanel SAS, was delighted to welcome Matthieu Blazy. “I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the house, through an ongoing dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our maisons d’art. His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions.”

Awards And Recognition

Collaboration and community are at the core of Blazy’s creative ethos, placing strong value on direct communication with artisans and craftspeople. His years at Maison Margiela — where his office was at the centre of the atelier — deepened his commitment to an inclusive and collaborative design process, ensuring that each piece carries a sense of authenticity, precision, and high quality. “Follow your gut, stick to something quite primitive as an idea, don’t overwork it, edit down. And if your idea becomes something that is not yours anymore, cancel it” he told BoF.

References

1. “Matthieu Blazy | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry”. The Business of Fashion. 
2. “Bottega Veneta Has a New Designer”. The New York Times. 
3.  “Bottega Veneta taps Louise Trotter as creative director”. Vogue Business. 
4.  “A Designer Inspired by Dutch Still Lifes and Gay Pulp Fiction”. The New York Times. 
5.  The Magician of Milan New York Times.
6.  “Matthieu Blazy heading to Céline?”. FashionNetwork.com.
7.  “Bottega Veneta’s creative director Matthieu Blazy on the brand’s heritage and the way forward”. Vogue India. 
8. “Bottega Veneta: Everything Old Is New Again”. The Business of Fashion. 
9.  “At Margiela, A Star Is Born”. British Vogue. 
10.  “The Most Famous Designer You’ve Never Heard Of”. The Cut. 
11. “Ye’s Maison Margiela ‘Yeezus’ Tour Mask Is On Sale for $50,000 USD”. Hypebeast. 
12.  “Report: Matthieu Blazy Has Joined Céline”. The Cut. 
13.  “Can Raf Simons Reinvent Calvin Klein?”. The New York Times. 
14. “Calvin Klein Set to Hire a New Creative Lead”. The Business of Fashion. 
15. “The Magician of Milan”. The New York Times. 
16. “Bottega Veneta unveils first collection by new creative director Matthieu Blazy”. CNN. 
17.  “Bottega Veneta’s $10,500 USD Double Kalimero Is a Bag of Two Halves”. Hypebeast. 
18.  “Matthieu Blazy’s Bottega Veneta Debuts New Everyday Classic, the Andiamo Bag”. Hypebeast. 
19. “Take a Closer Look at Bottega Veneta’s Winter 2023 Collection”. Hypebeast.
20.  “industrial glass blocks engulf bottega veneta’s avenue montaigne flagship store in paris”. designboom