For 26-year-old Trinidadian-Jamaican designer, Maximilian Davis, 2022 was already his year.
Fresh from an industry-lauded Fall/Winter collection with one of the most covetable designer incubator programs, Britain’s Fashion East, the designer was later selected as a finalist for the prestigious LVMH Prize.
And now, the London-based creative has landed the role of a lifetime: Creative Director at luxury Florentine label Salvatore Ferragamo.
“The clarity of his vision together with the level of execution and his powerful aesthetic make him one of the most brilliant talents of his generation,” said Salvatore Ferragamo CEO, Marco Gobbetti. We couldn’t agree more.
“His work is defined by elegance, refined sensuality, and constant commitment to quality,” Gobbetti continued. “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.”
Davis himself remarked, “I am deeply honoured to be joining Ferragamo, and grateful for the opportunity to build on the rich and profound 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,” the designer added.
Earlier this month, Davis surprised the industry when he dropped out of the LMVH Prize Award for 2022, an accolade that would’ve shaped the career for any finalist let alone the winner.
While little was known about his motive to remove himself from the running, it now seems that Davis clearly had a better offer on the table.
However, Davis’ appointment is more than just a career highlight for the emerging designer.
Davis has never presented a collection at an international fashion week outside of a collective, making his new appointment a sign of the fashion industry’s commitment to emerging young talent.
In fact, we could even draw parallels between Davis and Balmain’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing, who was the same age as Davis when he took up the helm at the legacy maison.
While Davis’ tenure has only just begun, we can’t wait to see the vision and vibrant energy this Manchester native brings to Salvatore Ferragamo.
