Shock news
Burberry announce Riccardo Tisci as chief creative officer
Burberry has named Riccardo Tisci as chief creative officer, effective 12th March.
Taking over from Christopher Bailey who, last year, announced he was stepping down after seventeen years at the brand, Tisci will be based at Burberry’s headquarters in London. In his new role, he will direct all Burberry collections and present his first for the brand in September.
“I am honoured and delighted to be joining Burberry as its new Chief Creative Officer and reuniting with Marco Gobbetti,” said Tisci. “I have an enormous respect for Burberry’s British heritage and global appeal and I am excited about the potential of this exceptional brand.”
Italian-born, Tisci escaped his hometown of Taranto at the age of nineteen to study at Central Saint Martins. Having graduated in 1999, he then returned to Italy to work for a number of brands including Antonio Berardi, Puma and Ruffo Research, before opening an eponymous brand in September 2004.
One year later, LVMH executives recruited Tisci to replace Julien Macdonald as creative director of Givenchy. Hailed for his dark and subversive aesthetic, throughout his impressive twelve-year tenure at the Parisian house, Tisci injected new life into the brand. Informed by streetwear, the club scene and an A-list extended family that stretched from Meryl Streep to Beyoncé, Marina Abramović to Madonna, Tisci’s sensual remix of the house’s codes proved an undoubted success.
This new move sees Tisci reunite with Marco Gobbetti, CEO of Burberry, having previously worked together at Givenchy. “I am delighted that Riccardo is joining Burberry as Chief Creative Officer,” said Gobbetti. “Riccardo is one of the most talented designers of our time. His designs have an elegance that is contemporary and his skill in blending streetwear with high fashion is highly relevant to today’s luxury consumer. Riccardo’s creative vision will reinforce the ambitions we have for Burberry and position the brand firmly in luxury.”
Riccardo Tisci will show his debut Burberry collection in September during the SS19 season.