It’s Official: Gucci Confirms Giannini’s Exit
Earlier today, Gucci announced that Frida Giannini no longer holds her role as creative director. The designer has left the Italian fashion house more than a month earlier than expected. The men’s and women’s collections for fall will be presented on January 19th and February 25th, respectively, “thanks to Gucci’s talented and dedicated men’s and women’s design teams.” Marco Bizzarri, president and CEO of Gucci, released a statement saying, “I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the outstanding contribution that Frida Giannini has made to Gucci’s legacy during her nine-year tenure as creative director.” An official decision announcing Giannini’s successor “will be made in due course,” Bizzarri added. Industry sources say Giannini was asked to leave the company on Friday. The designer had planned to exit Gucci after her fall women’s show on February 25th. Gucci cut short Giannini’s contract so decisions could be made about the luxury brand’s future creative direction.
Public School Wins Men’s Woolmark Prize
Public School won the inaugural Men’s International Woolmark Prize held during London Collections: Men on Friday. New York based designers Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow beat 61 other labels from 21 countries, and will receive a cash prize of 100,000 Australian dollars, or $81,000. Their collection will be sold at stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols and matchesfashion.com. “We didn’t know that [wool] can do so much. There were so many things we learned about wool doing this competition. We didn’t know about the breathability; it can protect you from sun rays; it can easily be washed; it doesn’t really smell- ever,” noted Osborne.
Cathy Horyn Is Back
Cathy Horyn, the former lead fashion critic for The New York Times, is at it again. Horyn is now the critic-at-large for The Cut for 2015. She will cover both spring- summer and fall-winter collections in New York and Paris for The New York Magazine-owned site. There’s also a possibility her contract may be extended after this year. “Cathy was always on our dream list for her unique authority and style,” said The Cut’s editorial director Stella Bugbee, who explained that Horyn “was not looking” to return to the fashion industry. “We approached her; It wasn’t a very long convincing process,” Bugbee added. Horyn resigned from The Times last February to care for her partner, the late Art Ortenberg. She has been working on her book as well, which is a long-term project.
-Claire Mykrantz
Source: WWD
Image: WWD via Gucci
