Matthew Williams' Givenchy Encapsulates Elegant Modernity

28 April 2022

Unveiling his first collection for the legendary couture house, Matthew Williams' SS21 offering for Givenchy combines his modern outlook and the Parisian label's historic legacy.

Sharing his vision for the storied Parisian fashion house, Matthew Williams delivers a statement of intent with this inaugural collection for Givenchy. Chic and modern, Givenchy SS21 encapsulates the 34-year old's overarching stylistic traits, while maintaining the codes that have made the brand such an enduring presence in the global fashion world.

Burgeoning with an elegance that belies the house's trademark tailored sartorial outlook, Williams' predilection for hardware, made infamous through his 1017 ALYX 9SM label, is evidenced in his sleek lock motifs. Placed diligently across leather bags, necklaces and jersey items, these talismans serve as a nod to the locks affixed to the bridges of Paris as the designer situates himself in his new home.

Striking a balance between formal garment design and the street-ready aesthetic sensibility Williams has cut has teeth on over the past decade, Givenchy's SS21 collection inhabits a space carved out by Virgil Abloh and Kim Jones. However, the American designer truly forms his own interpolation of contemporary luxury - in lieu of logos, Williams' hardware serves as a new symbol of Givenchy's luxurious and forward-thinking expression.