Riccardo Tisci is Burberry's new Chief Creative Officer

Italian Riccardo Tisci (former Givenchy) will succeed Christopher Bailey as Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer. Bailey’s last fashion show for the traditional British brand was presented during  the London Fashion Week.

Wind of change

“I am delighted that Riccardo is joining Burberry as Chief Creative Officer. 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.” Those were CEO Marco Gobbetti’s words to accompany the 43-year old’s appointment as Chief Creative Officer.

Gobbetti and Tisci know each other from before: they collaborated at Givenchy and Tisci even worked for that company for more than a decade. Gobbetti was his CEO and president between 2004 and 2008.

The Italian now faces the challenge to create a wind of change at Burberry, known for its rhombus. The fashion brand is working on a strong comeback, but its latest quarterly results were disappointing and showed that its growth pace was slowing down. Tisci will not have much time, because his first Burberry collection has to launch in September.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Tisci, who graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins Academy in Londen in 1999, was the man that gave back Givenchy its grandeur. He succeeded Julie McDonald in 2005 and was the brand’s Chief Creative Officer for twelve years. He was also one of the first designers to work with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Maybe we will get to see both trendsetters in a Burberry trench coat?

Bailey announced in October he would leave Burberry and that he was “ready for a new challenge”. It still remains to be seen what he will do now.