How to pronounce Givenchy and is Givenchy a good brand and where is Givenchy made? Here’s everything you need to know about the legendary French fashion house.

In 1952, a 24-year-old Hubert de Givenchy founded his namesake label on Rue Alfred de Vigny, Paris. Givenchy had studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, under the supervision of the likes of Elsa Schiaparelli and Robert Piguet. For his first collection, he presented a line of “separates”—elegant blouses and light skirts that could be mixed and matched, giving women the opportunity to create their own style. It was a revelation at the time.

With architectural lines, slim silhouettes, and simple materials, Givenchy’s style was deemed “casual chic”, and was an instant success. In 1953, Givenchy met Audrey Hepburn, who became a loyal customer, friend, and muse. “He is far more than a couturier,” Hepburn said of Givenchy. “He is a creator of personality.”

In 1995, Givenchy stepped down, and was succeeded by John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien MacDonald, Riccardo Tisci (who rebranded the house and introduced iconic handbags, such as the Antigona), Clare Waight Keller, and current creative director Matthew M. Williams. Today, Givenchy is owned by the LVMH group, the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate.

So is Givenchy a good brand? Read on.

How do you pronounce Givenchy?

So, how do you pronounce Givenchy? Let’s say it out loud: Szee-vohn-shee.

The sz sound can be tricky–more than a g, it sounds like the s in the word “vision”.

If you still can’t get it right…we’ve been there! All it takes is a little bit of practice.

Where is Givenchy made?

Givenchy products are manufactured in Italy, Portugal, and France.

Givenchy manufactures most of its leather goods in Italy (bags, belts, shoes, wallets), as well as jewelry and some clothing.

Tote bags, boots, knitwear, and pants are manufactured in France, while T-shirts are manufactured in Portugal.

So, check your Givenchy pieces—if they’re made elsewhere (e.g. made in China), you’re dealing with a fake!

How to care for your Givenchy bags

A Givenchy bag is an investment—it can retain or even increase its value over the years. But do you know how to properly care for it, so that it stands the test of time?

Here are some tips to ensure the longevity of your Givenchy bag:

• Keep it away from moisture and dust. Store your bag in a cool, dry place, and stuff it with newspaper or tissue paper to keep it from sagging.
• Avoid direct sunlight. Sunlight and heat can cause leather to fade and stiffen, so make sure you don’t leave your bag sitting next to a window or heater.
• Clean it regularly. Do not machine wash, bleach, tumble dry, or dry clean. To clean your leather Givenchy bag, simply wipe it with a damp cloth. Use a waterproof spray and a leather conditioner regularly.

If the damage is done, no need to worry. Many shoe repair shops and cobblers are also skilled handbag restorers, able to refresh the look of a handbag with a few minor treatments. Research what is available locally, or consider a mail-in service.

How do Givenchy sneakers fit?

Givenchy offers a range of sneakers for men and women. Our favorites? The Urban white sneakers. These laceless low tops feature a colored elastic band with the brand logo, and a comfortable leather insole. They will take any urban look to the next level!

All shoes from the brand come in half sizes and whole sizes (men’s FR 39 to FR 46, women’s FR 34 to FR 42). The Monumental Mallow shoes, however, only come in whole sizes.

The label follows French sizing, however, on the brand’s website, you can find a helpful size guide. If you’re still unsure, read our shoe size conversion article.

Givenchy sneakers usually fit true to size. Chunkier models, such as the Giv 1 sneakers, fit large to size—we recommend you go one full size down. For the Monumental Mallow shoes, if you are in between sizes, go one size down. Generally, if you have narrow feet, we recommend going down half a size.

So, is Givenchy a good brand?

Yes, it is! And now you know a bit about it and how to pronounce Givenchy.

Here is why we think Givenchy is a great brand:

• Givenchy has a unique style: a blend of casual street-style and classic Parisian elegance.
• Givenchy has a rich heritage. Founder Hubert de Givenchy was a visionary and one of the most influential designers of all time.
• While it is not cruelty free, Givenchy only uses the finest materials: smooth calfskin leather, cashmere wool, goatskin leather…
• Givenchy is only made in France, Italy, and Portugal.

So, how to tell if a Givenchy piece is real? When it comes to bags, look for the serial number, which, in compliance with LVMH standards, will include six or seven characters (two or three letters and four numbers).

Make sure you also inspect the quality of the leather, the stitching, the logo (it should always be perfectly centered, with even spacing between the letters), and the hardware (the zipper should be smooth).

When it comes to clothing, e.g. T-shirts, inspect the wash tag and the neck tag. Again, spacing between letters should be even, and the writing should be clearly legible. And don’t be shy—try the t-shirt on. If it’s authentic, you should feel the quality.

Givenchy Size Chart

At italist, we guarantee that you’re buying brand new, in-season, completely authentic luxury goods at the Italian retail price, which is typically lower than retail prices around the world.

Discover our selection of Givenchy bags and clothing for women, men, and kids.

About the Author

Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.