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The fashion industry has observed significant changes in leadership over the past few years, with many designers stepping down from their posts at major fashion houses. But in some good news, Lanvin has announced Peter Copping as its new artistic director, ending a year-long gap since Bruno Sialelli’s departure in April 2023.
According to the brand, Copping will oversee both womenswear and menswear collections beginning in September. However, it’s unclear if his debut will include a show, as Lanvin has not presented on the runway since its Autumn/Winter 2023 collection at Paris Fashion Week last March.
In an announcement posted to Instagram, Copping expressed his excitement over this appointment and his reverence for the French couturier’s founder.
“Jeanne Lanvin was a visionary of her time whose interests and passions extended far beyond fashion, as do my own,” he wrote. “I am extremely honoured to have been chosen as Artistic Director of Lanvin and to be able, along with the atelier and teams, to write the next chapter for this iconic house.”
Hailing from the UK, Copping attended the esteemed Central Saint Martins Design College and the Royal College of Art in London, going on to quietly work under some of the most prestigious names in fashion.
After cutting his teeth at Sonia Rykiel, he worked under Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton for a decade before becoming creative director of Nina Ricci from 2009 to 2014. He then moved on to Oscar de la Renta until 2016 and most recently held senior positions at Balenciaga as the head of couture and the head of VIP and special projects. The recent Balenciaga Autumn/Winter 2024 Haute Couture show was Copping’s last venture with the brand.
As creative directors become celebrities in their own right, many brands have been tapping fashion figures with existing profiles. With Copping, who, despite boasting a remarkable history, has remained relatively out of the spotlight, Lanvin is perhaps asserting its commitment to technical prowess and ample experience. As the oldest continually operating couture house in France—founded in 1889—the maison remained somewhat dormant after exiting the couture world before Alber Elbaz revived it to its former glory in 2001. Since his departure in 2015, Lanvin has seen a revolving door of designers but is hopefully poised for a revamp with Peter Copping’s new era.
