Clare Waight Keller, the British designer at the creative helm of historic French fashion house Givenchy, will be executing a standalone menswear collection to be debuted in June at the 96th edition of Pitti Uomo in Florence.
As the brand's first female artistic director, Keller has brought her own signature aesthetic to the house while paying homage to the creative forces who preceded her. Since her Givenchy debut in 2017, Keller has integrated menswear into the predominately female collections, undoubtedly setting the stage for a standalone presentation.
The departure from the brand's Parisian base arrives after Keller's breakout small menswear presentation this past January. From what can be interpreted as a pretext for her Pitti Uomo runway, the Givenchy man is influenced by the electric silhouettes of the '70s, and the color block aesthetic of the '90s. With the tailored, belted suits and the slim-fitted flared trousers, Keller's men's presentation was elegant, a tad nostalgic, and cohesively polished. The positive expectation ahead of her Pitti debut isn't all that surprising, particularly given the sartorial components Keller often incorporates into her womenswear lines.
"January was almost like the first chapter in the book," Keller told WWD. "Pitti is the opportunity to take that step into a much broader collection, and that’s a big opportunity for me to really express what I want to do, and also just my more rounded vision of what I want for the Givenchy man."
Pitti Uomo is one of the foremost platforms across the globe for menswear. The biannual event, which began in 1972, also holds particular significance when it comes to debuting new men's collections. Keller's Pitti appearance follows in the footsteps of nuanced utilitarian Craig Green and Belgian designer Glenn Martens of Y/Project.
"It is a huge honor for us to host the runway debut of the Givenchy men’s collection under the creative direction of Clare Waight Keller," said Lapo Cianchi, Pitti Immagine’s director of communication and special events. "A strong, modern and elegant vision; it is the perfect project for Pitti Uomo. I am certain that the atmospheres and spaces of Florence will offer Givenchy further aesthetic and symbolic motivations for concentrating on men’s fashion."
