Streetwear designer Demna Gvasalia steps down from Vetements

‘I have accomplished my mission’

Fashion designer Demna Gvasalia is stepping down from the helm of Vetements, the luxury brand he founded with his brother in 2014.

In a statement to WWD, the Georgian designer, who is best-known for his streetwear designs, revealed that he is stepping down from his position at Vetements “to pursue new ventures”.

An official date for Mr Gvasalia's exit has not yet been announced.

It is understood that Mr Gvasalia will continue in his role as creative director of Balenciaga, which is scheduled to show its spring/summer 2020 show in Paris on 29 September. He was appointed as artistic director of the fashion house in 2015.

“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,” Mr Gvasalia said.

“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.”

The designer’s brother, Guram Gvasalia, co-founder and chief executive officer, added that the brand will “continue to push the boundaries even further” following Mr Gvasalia's departure.

“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,” his brother said.

“Demna’s talent and vision of fashion have been fundamental in the continued success of Vetements.”

Vetements kickstarted the streetwear trend in fashion when it launched five years ago, becoming best known for its oversized mannish tailoring, reconstructed denim and novelty riffs on pop culture.

The brand captured the attention of fashion editors ever since its debut runway offering in 2015, which saw models storm through the basement of notorious gay sex club Le Depot wearing supersize trench coats and hoodies with sleeves that dragged across the floor.

With the likes of Kanye West, Travis Scott and Jared Leto sitting in the front row, it did not take very long for the brand’s pieces to sell out as soon as they dropped.

Mr Gvasalia, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antwerp, joined Maison Martin Margiela in 2009, where he was responsible for women’s collections until 2013.

He was then appointed senior designer of women’s ready-to-wear collections at Louis Vuitton.

However, it was the launch of Vetements that gave him international recognition.