Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia is stepping down from Vetements, the cult streetwear brand he co-founded five years ago, to “pursue new ventures.” In a statement provided to WWD, Gvasalia said, “I started Vetements because I was bored of fashion and against all odds fashion did change once and forever since Vetements appeared and it also opened a new door for so many. So I feel that I have accomplished my mission of a conceptualist and design innovator at this exceptional brand and Vetements has matured into a company that can evolve its creative heritage into a new chapter on its own.”
Often described as an evenings-and-weekends passion project of Gvasalia and his mysterious friends, the label hit the fashion scene in 2014 in Paris. The brand has since become known for its boundary-pushing garments, graphic T-shirts and oversized logo hoodies that cost over $1000.
Prior to creating Vetements, Gvasalia attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. and was a designer for Louis Vuitton and Maison Margiela. But it was his Vetements project — billed as an anonymous creative collective — that thrust him onto the international scene and landed him at the creative helm of Balenciaga.
“Vetements has always been a collective of creative minds. We will continue to push the boundaries even further, respecting codes and the authentic values of the brand, and keep on supporting honest creativity and genuine talent,” said Gvasalia’s brother Guram, who is the CEO of the label. “What Demna has accomplished over the past few years represents a key chapter in the story of Vetements. We are very grateful to Demna for having contributed to the great momentum of the house.”
In addition to whatever “new ventures” Gvasalia has planned for the future, the 38-year-old will continue as creative director of Balenciaga, which is scheduled to present its Spring 2020 show in Paris later this month. Vetements — and all of its expensive oversized goods — will live on as it will continue to be run by members of the design team and Gvasalia’s brother.
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Source: Fashionista.com
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