Yesterday afternoon, news broke that Alber Elbaz – Lanvin’s creative director – is leaving the house, after a 14-year tenure. While WWD reported that there had been “disagreements between the charismatic Israeli designer and company principals: owner Shaw-Lan Wang and chief executive officer Michèle Huiban”, reasons for Elbaz’s departure were unconfirmed until yesterday evening when the Elbaz released a personal statement.

In the statement, Elbaz alludes to the fact that he was pushed out, saying that his departure was “on the decision of the company’s majority shareholder.” He goes on to thank those who worked with him during his tenure, along with the clients, friends, press and business partners who he’s collaborated with. “Together,” he writes, “We have met the creative challenge presented by Lanvin and have restored its radiance and have returned it to its rightful position among France’s absolute luxury fashion houses.

“Together we have met the creative challenge presented by Lanvin and have restored its radiance and have returned it to its rightful position among France’s absolute luxury fashion houses” – Alber Elbaz

While Elbaz’s announcement came as a surprise, last week he voiced some of his frustrations with the fashion industry at the 2015 Fashion Group International's Night of Stars event. In a 16-minute speech he criticised its pace: “I said, ‘I need more time.’ And I think everybody in fashion these days needs just a little more time.” He also said that designers “started as couturiers with dreams, with intuitions and feelings,” and are now “image-makers”. 

In the wake of yesterday’s news, Elbaz has joined Céline’s Phoebe Philo and Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci in those rumoured to replace Raf Simons as Christian Dior’s creative director. Since joining Lanvin in 2001, Elbaz has been credited with modernising the house with his elegant, draped designs so it would certainly be interesting to see his interpretation of Dior’s house codes. 

Read Alber Elbaz’s full statement below:

“At this time of my departure from Lanvin on the decision of the company’s majority shareholder, I wish to express my gratitude and warm thoughts to all those who have worked with me passionately on the revival of Lanvin over the last 14 years; express my affection to all my wonderful colleagues in the Lanvin ateliers who accompanied me, and who enriched and supported my work. Together we have met the creative challenge presented by Lanvin and have restored its radiance and have returned it to its rightful position among France’s absolute luxury fashion houses.

“I also wish to express my profound and deepest gratitude to all of the clients and friends, to the French and international press and to all those business partners who collaborated with Lanvin, providing us with support since 2001.

“I wish the house of Lanvin the future it deserves among the best French luxury brands, and hope that it finds the business vision it needs to engage in the right way forward.”