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Olivier Lapidus has been announced as French high fashion house Lanvin’s new Artistic Director. The appointment follows the departure of Bouchra Jarrar last Thursday after only 16 months in the role. Jarrar succeeded Alber Elbaz, Lanvin’s former esteemed Artistic Director, who was controversially fired in 2015 after 14 years with the house.
Of his appointment, Lapidus thanked the house’s president and chief stakeholder, Madame Shaw-Lan Wang, and acknowledged Lanvin’s heritage saying, “With nearly 130 years of history, Lanvin is the oldest French couture house. To ensure its longevity is an immense task and an exciting challenge.”
Despite this, his appointment coincides with plans, according to the Business of Fashion, to revitalise the historic fashion brand as a “French Michael Kors.” In the face of diminishing revenue and a lack of investment, Lapidus is well placed to lead this change. The son of Ted Lapidus, who dressed The Beatles in their heyday, his interests lie in the intersections of lifestyle, couture and technology. He recently created what he describes as the world’s first e-couture house, was formerly the head of his father’s eponymous label, Ted Lapidus Maison and before that was creative director of Balmain Homme in the 80s.
Lapidus’ first collection as Lanvin’s new artistic director will show at Paris Fashion Week in two months’ time at the end of September.
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