It has been confirmed that Daniel Lee will succeed Riccardo Tisci as chief creative officer effective Monday of next week, ending months of rumors and uncertainty over Burberry’s future.
The former Bottega Veneta designer, who left the Italian fashion business in November, will take over as director of all collections on October 3 after Riccardo Tisci steps down. Lee will make his Burberry debut during London Fashion Week autumn/winter 2023 in February.
After leading Givenchy for an incredible 12 years, Riccardo joined Burberry in 2018, and it has been almost 5 years since then.
As CCO, Tisci has devoted himself to revitalizing the venerable British luxury brand, which has led to its expansion in foreign markets. Through collaboration with Marcus Rashford MBE and participation in the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, Burberry has continuously expanded its position as a pillar of British fashion and culture throughout this team.
“Daniel is an exceptional talent with a unique understanding of today’s luxury consumer and a strong record of commercial success, and his appointment reinforces the ambitions we have for Burberry,” commented new CEO Jonathan Akeroyd of his first appointment at the house. “I am excited about working closely with him and I am confident he will have the impact we are aiming for in this next phase, supported by our talented and experienced teams.”
The news comes after an emotional farewell performance from Tisci, who took his final bow at Burberry accompanied by the famous singers and models who have played a crucial role in his career. In a warehouse in Bermondsey, Stormzy, Pa Salieu, and Kanye West observed as Naomi Campbell, Irina Shayk, Bella Hadid, and Karen Elson exhibited his final directional take on the house’s great British cliches with a goth-at-the-beach slant.
Although Lee has completely different shoes to fill, he showed his talent for brand reinvention when he transformed Bottega from a sluggish legacy label into a cult hit that creates fashion’s most talked-about accessories. Since his time at Céline, when he worked with Phoebe Philo, he has been a secret favorite among editors, and many have been wanting to see his take on Burberry’s iconic outerwear. Trench coats with a fresh appearance are on the way; keep an eye out.
