With Alistair Carr gone as the creative director at Pringle of Scotland--and announced as the new creative director for McQ the same day Pringle showed their new spring collection--there was some skepticism in the air. Would Pringle's spring collection, designed by the label's in-house design team, live up?
Just when we though the designer musical chairs had finally settled down, yet another fashion house has parted ways with its design director. Pringle of Scotland's spring 2013 menswear show in June will be Alistair Carr's final collection for the label, which shows in London. WWD says the decision was "mutual" and "amicable."
Usually, it’s editorial shakeups that get us all confused and inspire us to create befuddling charts and guides to recap and (at least attempt to) make sense of movement within the fashion industry. Lately, however, it seems that most of the movement is taking place at big fashion houses. Whether it’s the economy or designers getting burnt-out, it seems like a top level position opens (or gets filled) every week. From Galliano's exit from Dior to Marios Schwab's from Halston (which happened so recently we didn't have a chance to include it), here’s our little visual guide to the recent ins and outs at major fashion houses.
After receiving lukewarm reviews for her snakeskin print-heavy Fall 2011 collection, rumors swirled last March that Chloé designer Hannah MacGibbon would be ousted from the label. Word then came that Chloé had extended MacGibbon’s contract for one more season. In hindsight, the label’s statement at the time was somewhat cryptic. The higher-ups at Chloé told WWD, “Hannah is still with us, that’s all I can say.” Not an entirely convincing vote of confidence. News broke this morning that effective June 1, Pringle of Scotland’s former creative director Clare Waight Keller would be taking the helm at Chloé. Hannah MacGibbon will “pursue new projects.”
There's been lots of moving around at fashion houses as of late, and this week is no different. First, Pringle announced that it's bringing on Balenciaga alum Alistair Carr as its new design director. Carr, who most recently worked directly under Nicolas Ghesquiere, has also done time at Marni, Cacharel, and Chloe. This is a big get for Pringle, and a chance for Carr to make a real name for himself beyond the industry's core. (He is also a mentor/friend of Fred Butler's; you can learn quite a bit about him on her blog.) Indeed, Pringle just became a hot London Fashion Week ticket. Stateside, Sigerson Morrison founders Kari Sigerson and Miranda Morrison have announced that they're leaving the company.