A Wren Says

Virginie Viard is no longer the artistic director of Chanel. Perhaps that means nothing to you. And why should it? But think of it this way, before Viard was Karl Lagerfeld who was with the brand from 30 years. Viard had been under Lagerfeld’s tutelage before assuming the role of artistic director after his passing. She herself was with the brand for close to 30 years. What you have there is some history and consistency that is potentially lost. I wonder what Chanel’s next move will be.

Unlike the other mega luxury brands that seem to constantly shake things up, Chanel appears to be about maintain a certain attention to their classics. The brand history is almost held in in their designs. That since of timelessness requires consistency over time, and that appears to be reflected even in their HR practices.

I hadn’t thought before about how a brand’s design ethos could be reflected in its practices, but it makes sense. What you do reflects how you (really) think. If you are serious about your mission and vision, it should be evident in your practices and not just the words on your website.

Source: Lockwood, L. & Feitelberg, R. (June 5, 2024). Virginie Viard, Artistic Director of Chanel, departs. WWD. https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/chanel-virginie-viard-departs-1236420153/