There have only been four named creative directors at Chanel in its 115-year-history. Two died while they were in the job. The other two were named in the past six years.

It’s a telling sign that even one of the longest-lasting and most successful fashion companies in the world has not been immune to the turbulence affecting nearly every brand. The luxury industry is being roiled by economic uncertainty and shifts in consumer behaviour, and houses are reacting with a change of creative gear.