The man who saved a 70-year-old famous Parisian fashion house from a slow demise into a perfumery has announced he is stepping down as creative director at Carven. His talent as a young, modern designer has projected the Carven brand into a contemporary, wearable and sophisticated realm of design, which has seen it return to the height of its heyday.
Guillaume Henry has announced he stepping down as Carven's Creative Director
In 2009, designer Guillaume Henry was hired by the label after an out of the blue phone call asking his thoughts on the current state of the brand. After a brief explanation of his views on the importance of a shift from couture into the more profitable (and commercial) market of providing ready-to-wear clothing for the fashionable woman – he was hired immediately.
His laidback attitude to clothes and dressing can be easily seen in his simplistic modern shapes, which allow women to live and enjoy life comfortably yet stylishly. He believes that people of all ages can enjoy his clothes, which have inevitably translated into a huge customer base for Carven thanks to Henry.
Henry’s successful last show for Spring Summer 2015 showed an interesting array of clean cut shapes, blocks of print and colour, and a 60’s silhouette. It was certainly a move away from the classic formations of draped dresses seen at his debut collection for the brand back in 2010.
Looks from the Carven Spring/Summer 2015 collection
Although he may not have transformed the way we carry our bags (…yet), it can still be said that his influence in dressing the modern woman is widely evident. A strong focus on the brand at hand and not turning his Carven journey to an egotistical take over has allowed Henry to sustain the origins of the historic label, yet further his career as a designer. As a result doors are opening for the 35-year-old with rumours circulating about his next designation being Nina Ricci.
