This year began with a roaring start for the fashion industry, with the return of the first full season of IRL shows since the pandemic reared its head in 2020, star-studded front rows, endless major red carpet style moments and some very exciting launches and high-profile collaborations. And it's only March.
The latest announcement to get the fashion world buzzing again is one which is particularly close to home: the news that a young British designer is set to take over as Creative Director for a storied Italian fashion house.
On Monday, Salvatore Ferragamo revealed that Manchester-born designer Maximilian Davis has been selected to take the reins as its new Creative Director – just weeks after he showed his fourth and final collection as part of LFW's Fashion East.
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Davis graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2017, before working under designers including Wales Bonner and Supriya Lele and launching his eponymous brand, Maximilian, in 2020. Ever since, it's been a steep rise up to fashion super-stardom for the young designer, whose clothes have already been worn by the likes of Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Kim Kardashian.
'I am deeply honoured to be joining Ferragamo, and grateful for the opportunity to build on the rich and profound heritage of the house,' Davis announced in an Instagram post on Monday. 'Ferragamo represents a dedication to timeless elegance and sophistication that I find incredibly inspiring. I’m looking forward to articulating my vision, elevated by the codes of Italian craftsmanship, quality and innovation.'
Maximilian's own brand will temporarily be put on hold, with his move to Ferragamo set to commence on March 16.
Commenting on the news, Ferragamo's CEO Marco Gobbetti says: 'The clarity of his vision together with the level of execution and his powerful aesthetic make him one of the most brilliant talents of his generation.
'His work is defined by elegance, refined sensuality, and constant commitment to quality. Through his lens of contemporary sensibility, he will write a new, exciting chapter for this house built on a heritage of creativity, craftsmanship, sophistication, and outstanding human values.'
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
