Hubert de Givenchy, founder of the iconic Parisian fashion house, passed away on Saturday. He was 91.
Givenchy gained notoriety for creating memorable looks for Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, and other celebrities. His designs revolutionized fashion, and in a way, you could even cite him as an early pioneer of street style; in 1954, just two years after releasing his first couture collection, he became one of the first designers to release a high-end ready-to-wear line. It is because of these bold, yet wearable pieces that Givenchy eventually became a household name for an unlikely demographic: rappers. The house that's now owned by conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton referred to its founder as "a gentleman who symbolized Parisian chic and elegance for more than half a century.”
And while classic Parisian elegance isn't always your first thought when it comes to modern hip-hop icons and rap stars, it speaks to the level of exclusivity that the brand presented, making it an obvious favorite for the demographic.
When it comes to the rap world, Givenchy has been synonymous with luxury. Everyone from Rick Ross, Young Thug, Future, Pusha T, and A$AP Rocky, to Kodak Black, Lil Pump, 2 Chainz and more have name-dropped the fashion house. Back in 2015, Young Thug and Birdman released "Givenchy," along with a music video that summed up the brand's status as being top tier—the definition of wealth.
In 1988, Givenchy sold his label to LVMH for $45 million, where he remained the head of creative design until retiring in 1995. Since his retirement, the label has seen an inspiring lineup of creative heads, among them Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and most recent Clare Waight. Waight said about the label's founder, “Not only was he one of the most influential fashion figures of our time, whose legacy still influences modern day dressing, but he also was one of the chicest most charming men I have ever met."
Givenchy's label continues to influence a world of many different walks of life. At the opening of his exhibit at the French Museum of Lace and Fashion, he said, “Mine is one of the most beautiful professions in fashion: making others happy with an idea.” From the Audrey Hepburn's of a bygone era of Hollywood elite, to the Lil Uzi Vert's of modern-day rock stars, his legacy lives on in his elegant, eye-catching designs.
