MILAN, Italy, March 12 (UPI) -- Four unknown fashion designers will replace Tom Ford, the industry star, at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, it was announced in Paris.
The owner of the brands, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, announced responsibilities for the labels would be divided among three former assistants at Gucci and a fourth at Saint Laurent, the New York Times said Friday.
The new women's wear designer at Gucci is Alessandra Facchinetti, John Ray is the men's designer and Frida Giannini is the director of Gucci accessories. Stefano Pilati will take over designs at Saint Laurent.
This is a significant change for a company identified with the personality of one designer. Gucci's rise in the 1990's was due to Ford's ability to read cultural signs and produce a head-to-toe look that flaunted sex and money. But, many consumers now seem to want to express their own, individual life style.
