Matthieu Blazy

Matthieu Blazy became the Artistic Director of Chanel in late 2024, and officially began the role in April 2025. He is the first external designer to lead the house since Karl Lagerfeld. He previously served as creative director of Bottega Veneta (2021–2024), where the former Raf Simons deputy was tasked with leading the Kering-owned label into a new phase of growth following Daniel Lee’s departure. Under his leadership, Bottega Veneta reported a 6 percent jump in comparable revenue in 2024, significantly outperforming the wider luxury market.

Blazy was born in Paris and graduated from La Cambre in Brussels. After internships at Nicolas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga and John Galliano, he began his fashion career as a menswear designer for Raf Simons, before joining Maison Martin Margiela to design the house’s artisanal line and women’s ready-to-wear. Kanye West famously wore crystal-encrusted masks from Maison Martin Margiela during Blazy’s tenure leading the brand’s anonymous design collective for his 2013–2014 ”Yeezus” tour.

In 2014, Blazy moved to Celine, where he was a senior designer under Phoebe Philo, before joining forces with Raf Simons again at Calvin Klein from 2016 to 2019.

He was appointed ready-to-wear design director at Bottega Veneta in 2020 under Daniel Lee, before becoming creative director in 2021. Blazy’s tenure was defined by a focus on quiet luxury and technical innovation, producing defining leather goods such as the Sardine, Andiamo and Kalimero bags. In September 2023, he inaugurated the house’s flagship store on Avenue Montaigne, Paris, and oversaw the launch of its first fragrance collection in October 2024. Following his departure to Chanel, he was succeeded at Bottega Veneta by Louise Trotter.

On 12 December 2024, Blazy was named Artistic Director of Fashion Collections at Chanel, succeeding Virginie Viard. His arrival opened a new era for the French couture and beauty giant, where he oversees haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories. Blazy presented his inaugural ready-to-wear collection in October 2025, followed by a critically acclaimed Haute Couture debut on 27 January 2026 at the Grand Palais. His work has been widely lauded for its quietly radical return to the house’s core philosophies, and he was honoured with a Wallpaper* Design Award in January 2025.