Italian fashion brand Versace announced the departure of its chief creative officer, Dario Vitale, on Thursday (Dec 4), less than nine months after he took over from Donatella Versace.
The announcement came two days after Prada Group concluded its acquisition of Versace. The latter brand said it would announce a new creative head "in due course".
Versace and Vitale "have mutually agreed to part ways effective from December 12", Versace said in a statement.
Vitale took over on April 1 from Donatella, the flashy label's longtime creative head and sister of founder Gianni Versace, ahead of the company's sale to Prada.
Read more: Did Versace’s pivot to ‘quiet luxury’ eventually lead to the Prada takeover?
He had been the design director of Prada's secondary Miu Miu brand, where he oversaw 93 percent retail growth last year, despite a challenging environment for luxury fashion.
Versace thanked Vitale for his "outstanding contribution... during this transition period".
Prada announced in April it would buy Versace from Capri Holdings Limited for €1.25bil (approximately RM6bil), hoping to breathe new life into a brand that had struggled under its US owner.
The acquisition closed on Tuesday (Dec 2). – AFP
