Fashion news website Business of Fashion has reported that Virginie Viard, the creative director of luxury fashion brand Chanel, is leaving the company after five years as the Artistic Director of Fashion collections. Viard introduced new elements while staying true to the brand’s creative heritage. There has been no mention of a potential successor to Viard, but Chanel’s Chief Executive Leena Nair had previously denied rumors of a designer change. Nair praised Viard’s work, highlighting her success in growing ready-to-wear fashion sales which have more than doubled since 2018. Despite mixed sales results in the luxury market, Chanel plans to open more stores in mainland China.
Chanel is famous for its tweed suits, quilted handbags, and iconic No. 5 perfume, and is the world’s second-largest label after Louis Vuitton. The brand is owned by French billionaire brothers Alain Wertheimer and Gerard Wertheimer. Chanel did not respond immediately to requests for comment on Viard’s departure.
