Italian designer Riccardo Tisci leaves Givenchy after 12 years, in third shock departure in a week

Fashion world shocked by third major departure in a week, as creative director leaves French label to concentrate on personal interests and passions

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Italian designer Riccardo Tisci acknowledges the audience at the end of his autumn/winter 2017 show for Givenchy. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:02pm, 3 Feb 2017Updated: 12:02pm, 3 Feb 2017

There have been three resignations in the fashion world this week. Chloe is losing its creative director, Ralph Lauren is parting company with its CEO Stefan Larsson, and Italian designer Riccardo Tisci has left Givenchy after 12 years as the French fashion house’s creative director, in order to focus on his “personal interests and passions.”

Givenchy, in a statement said it was “a joint decision” not to continue the collaboration, and that Tisci had officially left the company on January 31 “after a very successful 12-year partnership.”

The Italian creator revived the flagging label with a mix of street wear and couture, marked by a dark romanticism.

Madonna in a Givenchy outfit with designer Riccardo Tisci at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala in May 2016. Photo: AP

Givenchy chief executive Philippe Fortunato applauded Tisci’s “visionary qualities that led to a strong growth of the brand,” and thanked him for “his outstanding contribution to the international development and appeal” of the fashion house.

Tisci in the same statement, said he maintained “very special affection for the House of Givenchy and its beautiful teams.”

His latest menswear and haute couture collections for Givenchy, part of the French luxury group LVMH, were presented in Paris last month.