ROME (AP) 鈥� British designer Kim Jones is stepping down after four years from his role as artistic director of womenswear and couture at Fendi, parent fashion group LVMH announced late Friday.
Jones, 45, succeeded the late Karl Lagerfeld in designing Fendi haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur in September 2020. He said he will now concentrate fully on his role as artistic director at Dior Men鈥檚.
The designer has made a significant contribution to Fendi鈥檚 creative legacy, 鈥渟eamlessly integrating his modern and cross-cultural aesthetics with Fendi鈥檚 historical heritage.鈥滾VMH said.
鈥淯nder his leadership, the Maison reinvented its ready-to-wear and couture collections, offering an inclusive and innovative approach to fashion that constantly renewed Fendi鈥檚 Italian codes,鈥� it added.
Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, praised Jones as 鈥渁 highly talented designer who has brought his unique and multicultural vision to Fendi over the past four years.鈥�
Fendi made no mention of his successor, but added that 鈥渁 new creative organization鈥� for the brand will be announced in due time.
LVMH purchased a stake in Fendi from the Fendi family in 1999, before becoming the brand鈥檚 sole owner in 2001. Fendi is now LVMH鈥檚 fourth largest fashion brand, behind Louis Vuitton, Dior and Celine.
The Associated Press
