Ian Griffiths: The Creative Force Defining Max Mara’s Modern Elegance

by Natasha Wolff | November 3, 2025 12:03 pm

British-born designer Ian Griffiths[1], the longtime Creative Director of Max Mara[2], has built a career on balancing intellect with intuition — a rare fusion that has made him one of fashion’s most respected creative voices. Once a London club kid immersed in the city’s post-punk counterculture, Griffiths has since spent over three decades shaping Max Mara into the global symbol of sophisticated, intelligent style it is today.

Griffiths joined Max Mara in the late 1980s after graduating from the Royal College of Art in London, where his design sensibility was heavily influenced by both rebellion and refinement. “I went from the underground clubs of Manchester to the ateliers of Reggio Emilia,” he often recalls. “It was a journey from anarchy to architecture.” That sense of duality — urban edge meets classic structure — continues to define his work.

Under his direction, Max Mara’s collections have evolved beyond their iconic camel coats and precise tailoring to embrace a new kind of modern femininity. Griffiths champions strength through simplicity, designing for women who lead — in boardrooms, in politics, in art. “Max Mara has always been about empowering women through clothing that feels both protective and liberating,” he says.

Yet beneath the polish lies Griffiths’ artistic soul. His deep appreciation for culture, history, and storytelling informs every collection, whether inspired by Virginia Woolf, Lee Miller, or the women of Bauhaus. Each season becomes a meditation on purpose and power, rendered in luxurious fabrics and sculptural lines.

With Griffiths at the helm, Max Mara remains not just a fashion house but a philosophy — one rooted in timelessness and quiet confidence. From the runway to real life, his designs remind the world that true elegance isn’t about spectacle, but about strength worn beautifully.

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