Walter Chiapponi’s decision to step down as Creative Director of Blumarine comes as a surprise to many in the fashion industry, as he has only been with the fashion house for only one season.
An official statement was released on Thursday morning, when Marco Marchi, the sole administrator of parent company Eccellenze Italiane Holding, issued a statement thanking Chiapponi for his “vision and commitment” while announcing his departure. The designer was appointed creative director in November and debuted his first collection for Blumarine last month at Milan Fashion Week.
Read Also: Lookbook: Sacai Fall 2024 Ready-To-Wear Collection
“This was for me a sort of return to the future to which I dedicated all my love and my creative passion,” stated Chiapponi, who first started his career working at Blumarine with founder Anna Molinari. “In this path my gratitude goes first and foremost to Marco Marchi, who made it possible, but also to all those without whom wouldn’t have been able to express myself as I did. I am especially referring to people I have loved and who are no longer with us, but who continue to instill strong emotions in me, to inspire my feelings and my journey. I now want to concentrate on new initiatives and projects with a social and humanitarian scope before returning at a later date, at the right time, to the catwalk.”
The search for his successor is now underway, with high expectations for someone equally capable of steering Blumarine towards continued success and relevance in the ever-evolving landscape of luxury fashion.