Givenchy’s Head of Development and Production, Vincent H. Blanchard has an international seat with a vision for creativity. Bringing the worlds within Luxury Fashion together, we spoke with him to discover how he connected the dots in his career path…
“Always follow your dream and you will arrive to where you would like to be.”
What sparked your interest in fashion?
It was a mix between craftsmanship, art and innovation. The ability to be fashion-forward, create new things and make people happy – that is something I like. Coming from the accessories background, I enjoy being part of every step of the project – from the design brief to raw material development and product development. It’s great to see the process of the product being born and eventually arriving to the store.
How did you begin your career?
I started my career at Thierry Mugler, it was the first Couture house in Paris to open its own accessories department where I was recruited in the strangest way. At the time, I was involved in product design, packaging and perfume bottle designs, meanwhile the fashion industry revolved around fashion designers. To my luck, Thierry Mugler believed that accessories were supposed to be iconic and structural so they only recruited designers or architects to be part of the team, and that’s how I came into the picture.
What do you like most about working in luxury?
I like nice objects, attention to details and making things in a very aesthetic way, which makes me passionate about my work. Luxury has been practiced in Europe for centuries and I had the chance to learn some of the skills related to accessories. I brought the knowledge with me when I went to Asia and saw others around me become excited about the process because it was new to them. But now, you can’t imagine what they are able to do today! The Asian market is rapidly changing from manufacturers to the customers, and very soon, the Chinese Luxury brands will start to appear more in this industry.
What represents Givenchy to you?
Givenchy represents the tradition of French Couture house and at the same time, the future. That’s why they are one of the strongest players in fashion today.
What is it like to live between different cultures?
Travelling has opened my eyes and I discovered many ways of interacting with people. It has definitely made me grow, bringing more perspectives with great values. Hong Kong is a very multicultural city and you learn from different nationalities from around the world.
Give us an overview of your day-to-day activity at work.
As I often travel between Hong Kong and Paris, a lot can happen in my day. I check the feedback from Paris, look at the current situation of the development stages and solve product issues that may arise. Meanwhile, I keep track with my team, visit suppliers and give updates to the Headquarters. You could say that I am always on the move.
“I see creativity everywhere and inspire my team in the same way.”
Tell me about your unique talents that have supported you to help get to this role?
Coming from a creative and engineering background, it gave me an ability to build the bridge between different worlds and communicate products in the right way. I used the same concept when I worked in Louis Vuitton, attaching the different worlds together for each project.
What is the biggest lesson that you have learned when approaching this industry?
Be humble all the time! It’s very important to keep an open mind and always learn from designers as it helps you to grow.
What would have changed in your career path?
I have no regrets. Even in life we all make mistakes but we shouldn’t regret the things we do. We just need to learn from them and do better next time. I was happy to get into the fashion industry and work in different areas with a diverse set of people and it was all a great experience. I look forward to more exciting projects and events in the nearest future.
If not this job, where would you have been? What was your dream?
Originally, I wanted to be an architect. However, in my student days, the internet and easy travel was not common. Having a call from a headhunter from New York would have been an impossible experience. We were really expected to have a career in our own country. That’s why I was unsure about becoming an architect and changed my career to another interest of mine which was design. Yet, I still see the beauty of architecture around me when living and working in Hong Kong. Even if I am not in a creative position, I see creativity everywhere and inspire my team in the same way.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in this field?
If you are passionate and know that you can bring something to the market go for it and don’t be shy, especially if you have just graduated. This industry is not easy but never give up. Always follow your dream and you will eventually get there.
Which future trends do you predict for this industry?
The industry is constantly changing. Luxury will always be luxury but I see that there is a big place for young designers, brands and new ideas in the market, more space than ever.
“Go for it and never give up!”
THE INSIDER:
Favourite leather accessory you can’t live without: My Loewe vintage shopping bag that I love – simple but very intelligent from the construction to the attention to detail.
Unique talents? My creative expression; in my spare time I paint and get involved in photography.
Your ultimate fashion trend? I don’t really follow trends but I am crazy about shoes! For me, the outfit starts from the choice of the shoes.
Favourite fashion city? I don’t have any, every city has it’s own personality and I love them for many reasons.
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