Let's Talk Tisci: Riccardo, The Rottweiler and Givenchy

Riccardo Tisci in his signature Rottweiler on the FW11 runway

Riccardo Tisci has taken the fashion world by storm since his 2009 takeover of the Givenchy menswear collection. Born in 2005 under Ozwald Boateng, Tisci put it on the map with his introduction of luxurious leathers, and heavy use of black, religious, and animal imagery.   Givenchy was and continues to be highly embraced by the celebrity community, notably through Kanye West and his friendship with Tisci (Tisci designed Jay Z's and Kanye's Watch the Throne album art and tour outfits).

The Rottweiler, as seen above, seems to the be the iconic image with embodies Givenchy.  The aggressive Rottweiler reflects Givenchy's aggressive take on high fashion, more specifically where mens high fashion falls in relation to streetwear.  Tisci has seemingly blurred these lines with his subsequent collections (the most recently Star Wars inspired SS14 aside) and it's not surprising to see his designs popularly counterfeited.

What is it about Tisci's menswear collections that makes them so desirable amongst male (and occasionally even female) fashion communities though? The pricetag certainly exudes exclusivity, while availability is limited at best.  This limited availability increases the perceived exclusivity, in turn heightening the desirability of these garments. After all, streetwear and menswear are about being seen, and who doesn't want to be perceived as exclusive?

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of Tisci's designs, owning several garments myself including the Rottweiler, Birds of Paradise, and Paisley Planes.  Personally I am a fan of Tisci's use of color, or lack there of in his designs, choosing bold blacks, reds, greens and purples in place of lighter hues.  Excluding the SS14 collection, I plan on continuing the diffusion of Givenchy into my wardrobe.

How do you feel about the direction Tisci has taken Givenchy?  Do you own any pieces and would like to share your collection?  Share your thoughts in the comments!

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