James de Givenchy

Early life

Givenchy grew up in Beauvais, a small town in the suburbs of Paris where the Parfums Givenchy has its factory and where his father, Jean Claude Taffin de Givenchy (1925–2009) and his uncle, the fashion designer Hubert James Marcel Taffin De Givenchy, were born. James is one of 7 children born from the union of Patricia Taffin de Givenchy (born Myrick) and Jean Claude Taffin de Givenchy.

Career

James de Givenchy moved to New York in the early 1980s. After getting a degree in Fine Arts from Manhattanville College and an associate degree in graphic design from F.I.T. in New York City, James joined Christie's auction house where he ultimately ran the West Coast Jewelry Department in Los Angeles between 1991 and 1994. He left the auction world to work for the jewelry house of Verdura and then started his own jewelry concern in Manhattan in 1996. In 2001 his daughter Stella James Taffin de Givenchy was born.

Givenchy has been compared in the press to jewelry designers Fulco di Verdura (1898-1978) and Jean Schlumberger (1907-1987) since he is also a European jeweler established in America. In the past, Givenchy has cited Suzanne Belperron, Rene Boivin and Jeanne Toussaint as key influences. Taffin pieces are usually one of kind and have been featured in multiple fashion magazines. In 2003, Givenchy's jewelry was exhibited at the Long Beach Museum of Art in 2003. He also received a Stars of Design Award in 2008 for his work in the field of jewelry design.

In 2008, Taffin launched a limited edition series of men's wristwatches which have been featured in Men's Vogue.

In June 2008, James de Givenchy was named creative director for Sotheby's Diamonds.

In 2012, James de Givenchy was appointed as Baccarat's first creative director.

Recently, James de Givenchy has been featured in Architectural Digest and Wall Street Journal among other publications.