MILAN — Gianfranco Ferré’s new owner, Paris Group, has pushed out the brand’s creative directors Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi, WWD has learned.
A well-placed source said “sales didn’t go well at all and the designers have already left.”
Paris Group owner Abdulkader Sankari and his son Ahmed attended their first Ferré show as the new owners of the brand in February and, while tight-lipped about the future of the company, it was obvious the designing duo was treading on uncertain terrain. Ahmed Sankari, who took on the role of chairman of the company, and his father spoke highly of chief executive officer Michela Piva, who appears to be confirmed in her role, but were less warm about Aquilano and Rimondi. “We will see,” was all they had to say when asked if the duo would stay on at the house.
A retailer who asked to remain anonymous also blamed poor sales as the main reason for their departure. “We bought a minimal amount of the collection for the sake of carrying the brand, but there simply were not enough samples,” said the retailer. “There was almost no daywear and evening wear was fairy-tale-like, something for the Oscars. It may work for a small, niche brand, but not for such a global brand.”
For complete coverage, see Wednesday’s WWD.
