Alber Elbaz is leaving Lanvin.
The designer was ousted early Wednesday morning EST, after 14 years with the brand. During that time, Elbaz helped bring the fashion house back from the brink of death and into one of Paris’s hottest tickets.
WWD.com reports that Elbaz released a statement, claiming his departure was down to the “decision of the company’s majority shareholder”, though does not name Shaw-Lan Wang, the Taiwanese publishing magnate who first recruited him to revive the company.
Lanvin issued a statement late Wednesday, thanking Elbaz for the “chapter he has written in the House’s 125 year history”.
The brand goes on to confirm the “implementation of its corporate strategic plan to continue making the oldest of Parisian fashion houses, the Ambassador of French luxury’s excellence, in the independent spirit of its founder Jeanne Lanvin”.
In the meeting announcing Elbaz’s exit, many employees were said to be in tears, according to WWD.com, “rallying behind their creative director” and demanding “an explanation from the company on its future plans”.
In a letter left by Elbaz, he writes: “I wish to express my gratitude and warm thoughts to all those who have worked with me passionately on the revival of Lanvin over the last 14 years; express my affection to all my wonderful colleagues in the Lanvin ateliers who accompanied me, and who enriched and supported my work.
“Together, we have met the creative challenge presented by Lanvin and have restored its radiance and returned it to its rightful position among France’s absolute luxury fashion houses.”
The development comes less than a week after Raf Simons resigned from Christian Dior following a three and a half year stint at the fashion house. This sparks speculation that Elbaz might ultimately succeed Simons at Dior. It’s said that Elbaz had entered into talks with Dior following John Galliano’s expulsion as a result of his racist and anti-Semitic outbursts in a Paris cafe in 2011. However, a deal was never struck due to Elbaz holding an ownership stake in Lanvin.
