Clare Waight Keller Revives Givenchy Haute Couture

Clare Waight Keller, a British designer with 25 years of experience at Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Pringle of Scotland, and Chloé, has revitalized Givenchy's haute couture operations. Upon joining Givenchy, owned by LVMH, she reportedly insisted on restarting a dedicated haute couture line. Her first couture collection for spring-summer 2018 debuted in January at the Archives Nationales in Paris's Marais district. The collection emphasized intimate craftsmanship, with garments hand-sewn and pressed, using special fabrics. Givenchy CEO Philippe Fortunato noted that without couture, the brand would become like any other. Only four 20th-century-rooted couture houses remain: Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, and Valentino, competing with newcomers like Gaultier and Armani Privé. The global clientele for haute couture is limited to about 500 individuals willing to spend €50,000 on a jacket or €200,000 on a skirt. Waight Keller, married to architect Philip Keller for 20 years and mother of three, balances family life with her demanding role. Unlike predecessor Alexander McQueen, who dismissed Givenchy's heritage, Waight Keller respects the archive and couture know-how.