Almost a year after parting ways with creative director Paul Andrew, Salvatore Ferragamo has appointed young, up-and-coming British designer Maximilian Davis to take his place.
Welcoming the new creative director to the luxury fashion house, CEO Marco Gobbetti commented that Maximilian was “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,” he added.
Maximilian expressed his gratitude to be joining and building on the heritage of the house. “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,” he added in a statement.
So who is Maximilian Davis? Here are five things to know about the 26-year-old fashion designer.
He’s a London College of Fashion grad
View this post on Instagram
After studying at the prestigious London School of Fashion, he worked with designers like Grace Wales Bonner, Mowalola, Asai, and Supriya Lele before launching his own label, Maximilian, in 2020. He debuted his collection at London talent incubator Fashion East’s Spring/Summer 2021 show, and saw his star rise quickly among London’s fashion scene. More recently, his work got him shortlisted as a semi-finalist for the 2022 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.
He has Trinidadian-Jamaican roots
View this post on Instagram
Despite being born in Manchester and based in London, Maximilian has never lost touch with his Trinidadian and Jamaican background. In fact, the collections in his eponymous label explore and pay tribute to the Afro-Caribbean heritage of his grandparents, with inspiration stemming from his grandmother’s vinyls, Caribbean food, calypso music and Trinidad’s Carnival festival.
Rihanna and Dua Lipa are fans
View this post on Instagram
Fashion maven and Caribbean-born Rihanna has taken a liking to Maximilian’s creations, having been seen wearing pieces such as the Harlequin Devoré halter from his Spring/Summer 2022 collection. Other celebrities like A$AP Rocky, Zendaya, Kylie Jenner and Dua Lipa have also been spotted wearing his designs for red carpet events, music videos and photoshoots.
Ferragamo will be his sole focus
View this post on Instagram
Maximilian surprised the industry when he dropped out of the LVMH Prize competition earlier this month, leaving many to wonder why he would give up the immense, career-shaping opportunity. With the announcement of his appointment at Ferragamo, all became clear. It is also reported that his own label will be put on hold as he officially begins work as the house’s creative director on March 16.
He’s being compared to Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing
View this post on Instagram
The announcement of his appointment has got fashion fans excited, to say the least, with some parallels being drawn between Maximilian and Olivier Rousteing. In 2011, Rousteing was similarly handed the reins as creative director of Balmain at the young age of 24, subsequently transforming it into the fashion powerhouse it is today. Many are no doubt eager to see the fresh energy and creative perspective Maximilian will bring to the table and marking their calendars for Ferragamo’s collection showcase next season.
