Chanel Signals Blazy's New Direction
Chanel is offering the first glimpses of its new era under Matthieu Blazy. The Cruise 2025/26 show, held at Lake Como, doubled down on European grandeur and artisanal craftsmanship. Meanwhile, President Bruno Pavlovsky's recent remarks reinforce a commitment to heritage while hinting at strategic evolution, with industry commentary noting Blazy's collaborative leadership style.
Matthieu Blazy's appointment follows the abrupt departure of Virginie Viard in June 2024, who, despite achieving record sales, faced criticism for collections that lacked the theatricality of the Lagerfeld era. The leadership change comes as Chanel navigates a broader luxury market slowdown, with the company reporting a 4.3% revenue decline for 2024. Blazy is only the fourth creative lead in Chanel's history, after the founder herself, Karl Lagerfeld, and Viard. The 40-year-old Franco-Belgian designer has a formidable resume, having trained under Raf Simons and Phoebe Philo at Céline, and designed for Maison Margiela, where he created the crystal mask for Kanye West's "Yeezus" tour. He arrives from a highly successful three-year tenure at Bottega Veneta, which he transformed into a hot ticket with a "quiet luxury" ethos. There, Blazy was celebrated for his mastery of craftsmanship and material innovation, creating viral trompe l'oeil pieces like leather pants that appeared to be denim. The move signals a strategic reinforcement of product and artisanship over pure spectacle. Chanel's President of Fashion, Bruno Pavlovsky, has stressed that a designer alone cannot solve supply chain and operational challenges, praising Blazy as a "product guy." This aligns with Chanel's recent record investments of over $1.7 billion in its boutiques, client experience, and acquiring specialist ateliers. Blazy’s debut collection is slated for the Spring/Summer 2026 presentation in October 2025. The interim Cruise 2025/26 collection, shown at Lake Como, was created by the house's internal design studio, serving as a prelude to Blazy's highly anticipated new chapter for the brand.
