Meadow Walker is signed to DNA Models in New York and kicked off the year with an ad campaign for Proenza Schouler’s Pre-Fall 2021 collection, followed by the label’s runway show at New York Fashion Week.
Meadow Walker opened Givenchy’s autumn-winter 2021 presentation. Credit: Givenchy
The 10-minute Givenchy video Walker appears in transports viewers to an industrial space that combines fashion with underground nightlife. Male and female models navigate maze-like metal walkways before Walker is spotlit from above, beginning the procession. In the vast space, they stomp to the driving sounds of Robert Hood, a producer and DJ who hails from Detroit and is known as one of the founding fathers of minimal techno. The autumn-winter 2021 ready-to-wear collection features layered silhouettes in mostly black and creams, including oversized outwear and tailored blazers, along with details that include architectural shoulders and harnesses.
The collection “is a mix of lavishness and austerity,” Givenchy said in a press statement. Credit: Givenchy
“In many ways, this collection is about a constant tension between two worlds. It’s about finding personal meaning in difficult circumstances; it’s about sincerity in what we do rather than strategy,” Williams said in a press statement. “We wanted to bring a sense of lived reality alongside precision, elegance and extravagance in the clothing and looks. Ultimately, fashion for us is a way of being, feeling and connecting rather than a game to be played. It’s almost like monumentalising the everyday, filling it with emotion — like music you can wear.”
Layered looks with oversized outerwear were punctuated by skin-revealing knits and dresses. Credit: Givenchy
Williams — who is known for his streetwear brand 1017 Alyx 9SM, as well as his work for Lady Gaga’s Haus of Gaga — was appointed Givenchy’s creative director last year after Clare Waight Keller stepped down from the role. The French luxury label’s first campaign under Williams’ direction was released for the spring-summer 2021 collection and featured the imagery of Williams’ longtime collaborator, British photographer Nick Knight.
The 10-minute film takes place in a vast industrial space with the thumping sounds of minimal techno. Credit: Givenchy
When Williams joined Givenchy, he signaled the direction he would take, saying in a statement that he was looking forward to moving the label “into a new era based on modernity and inclusivity.”
“In these unprecedented times for the world, I want to send a message of hope, together with my community and colleagues, and intend to contribute toward positive change,” he said.
