For a long time, Matthieu Blazy was one of fashion's best-kept secrets. Then, in 2014, an Instagram post by journalist Suzy Menkes praising his Artisanal collection for Maison Margiela – an announcement the house reportedly did not appreciate, given its tradition of designer anonymity – began to generate buzz around his name. Since December 12, 2024, a significant portion of the global fashion-following public has come to recognize not only his face but, above all, the new position he has just landed: creative director of fashion at Chanel. It's a formidable challenge for the 40-year-old designer, now responsible for nearly 10 collections a year – six of which are shown on the runway – at one of the world's most prestigious brands.

The Franco-Belgian designer, son of a pre-Columbian art expert and a mother who is an ethnologist and art historian, has always anchored his work in an erudite and sensitive tradition. During his three years as creative director at Bottega Veneta – presenting six of the most eagerly anticipated collections of Milan Fashion Week – he won over his audience with a sophisticated, deceptively classic approach.

You have 83.28% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.