Givenchy
LVMH · France
Givenchy is the Paris couture house founded by Hubert de Givenchy in 1952 and owned by LVMH since 1988. Famous for its elegant couture and long association with Audrey Hepburn, it has been designed by Sarah Burton since September 2024.
| Founded | 1952, Paris |
|---|---|
| Founder | Hubert de Givenchy |
| Owner | LVMH (since 1988) |
| Headquarters | 3 avenue George V, Paris |
| Creative director | Sarah Burton (since 2024) |
| Website | givenchy.com |
What is Givenchy?
Givenchy is a French luxury house offering women's and men's ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and accessories, with fragrance and make-up under Parfums Givenchy. It is part of LVMH. British designer Sarah Burton, who led Alexander McQueen for 13 years, has been creative director of womenswear and menswear since September 2024 and showed her first collection in March 2025.
History
Hubert de Givenchy founded the couture house in Paris in 1952, aged 24. He quickly became known for refined, wearable elegance, and his friendship with Audrey Hepburn made the house famous through film. The first fragrance, L'Interdit, appeared in 1957. LVMH acquired Givenchy in 1988, and its founder retired in 1995. Successors included John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien Macdonald, Riccardo Tisci (2005 to 2017), Clare Waight Keller and Matthew Williams.
Products and positioning
Givenchy is positioned as a luxury house with couture roots. Its offer spans ready-to-wear, leather goods and footwear, and beauty remains an important source of brand reach. Some categories, including eyewear, have historically been produced under licence.
Business model and distribution
The house sells through directly operated boutiques, 98 in 12 countries according to LVMH, plus e-commerce and department store distribution. Fragrance and cosmetics reach a far wider audience through selective beauty retail. Its headquarters is at 3 avenue George V in Paris.
Over seven decades the house has moved between couture refinement and a more streetwear-influenced identity, notably under Riccardo Tisci and Matthew Williams. Burton's arrival signals a renewed focus on tailoring, craft and the founder's legacy of elegant, wearable clothes.
Why it matters
Givenchy is one of the historic Paris couture names within LVMH. Burton's appointment brought one of Britain's most respected designers to the house and is a test of whether a strong couture identity can be translated into durable commercial growth.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Givenchy?
Givenchy has been owned by LVMH since 1988. Its fragrances and cosmetics are produced by Parfums Givenchy within the same group.
Who is the creative director of Givenchy?
Sarah Burton has been creative director of Givenchy since September 2024, responsible for womenswear and menswear. She previously led Alexander McQueen from 2010 to 2023.