Clare Waight Keller leaves Givenchy: the designer behind Meghan Markle's wedding dress exits fashion house

Gal Gadot and Clare Waight Keller arrive on the red carpet for the 2019 Met Gala. EPA

Cate Blanchett wears Givenchy for the screening of 'BlacKkKlansman' during the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes, France on May 14, 2018. EPA

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex emerge from the West Door of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. For their wedding on May 19, 2018, the Duchess of Sussex wore a Givenchy dress designed by Clare Waight Keller. AFP

Chadwick Boseman wears Givenchy to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 91st annual Academy Awards ceremony, in Beverly Hills on February 24, 2019. EPA

Rooney Mara wears Givenchy for the 73rd annual British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain on February 2, 2020. EPA 

Mena Massoud wears Givenchy at the 'Aladdin' premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on May 21, 2019. EPA

Golshifteh Farahani wears Givenchy for the 'The Dead Don't Die' and the Opening Ceremony of the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2019. EPA

Nicholas Hoult wears Givenchy for the world premiere of 'X-Men: Dark Phoenix' in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, on June 4, 2019. EPA 

Lady Gaga wears Givenchy for the 'A Star Is Born' premiere at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on September 24, 2018. EPA

Angelina Jolie wears Givenchy for a photocall for 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' in Rome on October 7, 2019. EPA

Clare Waight Keller is to leave Givenchy after three years as creative director, the fashion house announced on Friday, April 10.

The maison announced the news on its social media, saying: "The House of Givenchy and Clare Waight Keller announce the end of their collaboration. Givenchy wants to warmly thank Clare Waight Keller for her creative leadership, in contribution to our latest chapter."

Click through the gallery above to see some of the red carpet highlights from Waight Keller's time at Givenchy. 

The announcement came with a statement from Sidney Toledano, the LVMH Fashion Group chief executive. As well as Givenchy, the LVMH group owns a number of high-end brands, including Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Celine.

"I want to warmly thank Clare Waight Keller for her contribution to Givenchy's latest chapter," Toledano said.

"Under her creative leadership, and in great collaboration with its ateliers and teams, the maison reconnected with the founding values of Hubert de Givenchy and his innate sense of elegance."

It is not yet clear what Waight Keller will do next and her successor is yet to be announced.

On her own social media, she wrote: "After three truly wonderful years, the time has come to close my chapter at Givenchy.
"As the first woman to be the artistic director of this legendary maison, I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to cherish its legacy and bring it new life."

She also paid tribute to the "unsung heroes and heroines behind the scenes", saying: "Without all of you, I could not have brought my vision for Givenchy to life in such a beautiful way."

Waight Keller is best known as the designer behind the Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress. She created the boat-necked, sculpted dress that Markle wore for her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, featuring a five-metre (16-foot) train embroidered with flowers from all 53 Commonwealth countries.

Previously, Waight Keller made her name by turning Pringle of Scotland from a knitwear maker into a fashion brand.

She has also worked for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and for Tom Ford at Gucci. She joined Givenchy after six years at the helm at Chloe.