Ranking Fashion’s Longest-serving Creative Directors Time

Creative tenures in the fashion industry are getting shorter amid a flurry of changes. During the last year alone, heritage brands such as Celine, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Moschino, Valentino and Alberta Ferretti saw changes at the design helm.?

Many attribute this climate of upheaval to economic pressure, lifestyle trends and outmoded business models.?

Here WWD takes a look at fashion’s longest-serving creative directors.

1. Véronique Nichanian: 36 Years at Hermès

Nichanian was appointed men’s artistic director of Hermès in 1988. Previously, Nichanian was in charge of the men’s collection at Cerruti.

2. Victoire de Castellane: 26 Years at Maison Christian Dior Jewelry

In 1998, Maison Christian Dior created a new jewelry department, appointing Victoire de Castellane as artistic director.?Previously, De Castellane was head of Chanel’s costume jewelry designs? for 14 years.

3. Ian Griffiths: 19 Years at Max Mara

Griffiths joined the company in 1987, fresh out of the Royal College of Art, after winning the brand’s contest in 1985. In 2005, with the blessing of Max Mara’s owners, the Maramotti family, Griffiths was appointed lead designer of the brand.

4. Olivier Rousteing: 19 Years at Balmain

Rousteing joined Balmain in 2009 and was in charge of the women’s wear design studio. In 2011 the designer was appointed creative director of the brand, succeeding Christophe Decarnin. Previously, Rousteing worked for Roberto Cavalli for five years in Milan.

Read the full list of the longest running creative directors here.