givenchy

www.givenchy.com

Givenchy

Givenchy (pronounced gee-von-shee) is a line of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics.

French, elegant, audacious, intense.

Givenchy, the Parisian Haute-Couture House has stood for special beauty since 1952, when there was opened the couture house by 'Hubert de Givenchy'. This renowned couture house implies all required qualities; this time, allowing delicate spider-web like a lace on couture dress or hand-stitched lapel of a suit for men and last but not least the silver shimmering reflection on sunglasses.

In 1953, Hubert de Givenchy met Audrey Hepburn and was inspired by her. She became his prototype of ideal woman and had a great influence and also importance in Givenchy’s life. She was capable of enhancing all his creations. There was very close relationship between them, which took for over 40 years and produced a creative partnership in brilliant and traditional haute couture. And it is still portrayed in the brand – 50 years later. In fact, the symbiotic relationship between Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn remained constant and he designed her wardrobe in Funny Face (1957), Love in the Afternoon (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Paris When It Sizzles (1963), Charade (1964), How to Steal a Million (1966). When John F.Kennedy was assassinated, the world witnessed a mourning Kennedy family all dressed in Givenchy clothes.

Givenchy, a pioneer in many fields, was the first designer who presented a luxury collection of women’s ready-to-wear (1954). His designs are elegant and refined. “Separates” (1952), the bag-dress (1955), the funneled collar coat (1958), the enveloped dresses (1966), and the garments of printed textiles inspired by Miro, Matisse or Christian Berard (1980s) were among his most original designs.

Givenchy’s the first menswear collection under the “Gentleman Givenchy” label was presented in 1973. Then, 30 years later, men’s Ready-to-Wear accounts for nearly 40 percent of sales, and some 100,000 ready-to-wear items produced each season.

In 1988, Givenchy sold his house to LVMH (Bernard Arnault), who also own the houses of Dior, Lacroix, Celine and Kenzo. In 1995 John Galliano was called in and presented two collections for Givenchy which were very well received, even though they were a little flamboyant for the rather sedate house of Givenchy, but the new owners desired to create some greater excitement.

The actress Liv Tyler, star of "Lord of the Rings", became the new face of the ad campaign for Givenchy's "Very Irresistible" fragrance.

Oswald Boateng, Creative Director of Menswear at Givenchy from 2003, became the youngest tailor ever to set up shop on Savile Row, London’s famous center of traditional bespoke tailoring. Oswald Boatening is previous winner of the Best Male Designer Award at the Trophees de la Mode in Paris and at the British Fashion Awards. This man, who is inspired by the “codes” of the brand says: “For me, Givenchy is the embodiment of elegance. I instinctively associate the brand with the French gentleman. However, while the British gentleman is a clearly defined character linked to the history of Saville Row, the French gentleman is a more difficult concept to define and connect with a specific period. I needed to go back to the origins (of Givenchy) as much as possible to better reinterpret it with a contemporary slant.”

In March 2005, Riccardo Tisci was appointed Creative Director of Givenchy haute couture and women's wear. The 30-year-old Tisci presented his first collection for Givenchy in July during haute couture week. He is a 1999 graduate of London's famed Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, alma mater of an entire generation of top designers including Alexander McQueen, John Galliano of Dior women's, Stella McCartney, and Phoebe Philo of Chloe. Tisci is interested in gothic style-- minimalism of space-age --dark, languid dresses on sickly models for fall couture --one ready-to-wear show featured white-clad models drifting aimlessly around a sterile-white sphere--a set clouded with church incense that included a full-size wooden cross have. Many reviews so far, including influential fashion critics (such as Cathy Horyn of the New York Times and Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune) have honed in on Tisci's conceptual leanings, as well as his future potential for revitalizing the Givenchy brand and infusing it with his precision and imagination.

Givenchy’s new focus is sporty chic – aiming to make the label both more fun and accessible, whilst maintaining the rigorous excellence of the Givenchy brand name.

The 2005 Givenchy sunglass collection embodies sporty chic. Color acetate frames, with Swarovski crystal detailing on the temples or refined metallic frames with splashes of color with Givenchy monogrammed temples.

Givenchy is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter. Like Dior, the company is owned by the European luxury goods giant, LVMH. In 1993, Givenchy achieved a total sales worth of $176 million, making it the second largest apparel division of LVMH after Dior.

Givenchy