All is not right in the fashion industry with creative directors opting out (or in Alber Elbaz’s case, getting pushed out) of the helms of major fashion labels with the most recent rumor revolving around Hedi Slimane and his supposed imminent departure from Saint Laurent Paris.
So when fashion website The Fashion Law reported definitively last Feb. 4 that Céline creative director Phoebe Philo was set to leave the brand, the news spread quickly.
The first line from the report reads as follows: “On the heels of reports this summer that Phoebe Philo, creative director of French fashion house Céline, was looking to leave the company, our sources confirm that Philo is, in fact, departing from the house but will wait until the fall/winter 2016 collection is marketed to do so.”
However, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the conglomerate that owns and operates Céline and Dior, was quick to squelch the errant scoop. WWD had access to an internal memo issued by the company to employees stating that Phoebe and Céline “are more motivated and committed than ever to their partnership and will continue to create beautiful products.” The memo was signed by Phoebe herself, along with chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti.
The memo also indirectly threw shade at all the media outlets that were quick to jump the gun before getting confirmation from the sources themselves, saying the reports were “based on rumors, not truths,” while blaming “poor journalism” and “dubious sources.”
Now can we please ogle those gorgeous Céline Sailor Bags in peace?
[WWD]
Photo courtesy of Hypebeast
