Givenchy celebrates 70 years of fashion collections with a new book

On Thursday night, French fashion house Givenchy fêted the launch of its « Givenchy Catwalk » book during a champagne and sushi-fueled cocktail evening at its swanky store on Paris’s Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré – one of the capital’s most luxurious arteries.

The « Givenchy Catwalk » book is an ode to the marque’s heritage of no less than 180 seasonal collections of ready-to-wear and haute couture, which span over seventy years. A first for Givenchy, whose archival researches only began in 2016. From its genesis in 1952, helmed by Hubert de Givenchy, to the latest creations of current artistic director Matthew M. Williams, this new book retraces chronologically the prolific works of the many designers that helped shape the brand into the fashion powerhouse it is today. Notable collections include those of Alexander McQueen, whose powerful, ethereal designs defined the Givenchy DNA from 1996 to 2001, as well as the founder’s Spring/Summer 1955 Haute Couture collection, entirely devoted to Givenchy muse and actress Audrey Hepburn. Not to forget the fruit of John Galliano’s two-year stint at the brand, which lasted from 1995 to 1997.

Over 1200 photographies come to grace the pages of « Givenchy Catwalk », but not only. Alexandre Samson, fashion historian and curator at the Palais Galliera, known for giving life to uber-successful exhibitions such as « 1997 Fashion Big Bang » and “Margiela Galliera 1989-2009 », joined forces with Anders Christian Madsen, fashion critic for English Vogue, to give detailed and insightful commentaries of each collection, alongside biographical elements introducing each featured designer. By implementing real press critics and actual clients’ opinions from back in the day, both writers’ words mark a thorough and veritable exploration of each collection in their analyses, which resonate as an eloquent homage to all creative masterminds during their respective reigns at Givenchy. 

Samson, who was present at the book’s inauguration, admits that it took two years to assemble « Givenchy Catwalk ». During which he encountered as his biggest challenge « finding and assembling the photos of the most emblematic looks, those that really speak to a grander public. The idea was to conceive a book in the same way that I curate an exhibition at the Palais Galliera, meaning to find the right elements to amaze and transmit the love of the subject to everyone, from a well-acquainted journalist to a student to someone who’s been in the industry for over sixty years ».

With a sparkle in his eye, he further justifies that his personal adoration for the brand drove this new body of work: « the heart of Givenchy beats to the rhythm of all eras, while maintaining a rare balance between commercial offers and spectacular creations”.

« Givenchy Catwalk » by Editions de la Martinière is available both at selected bookstores and online and sells for 59 euros.