Ann Demeulemeester to Exit House

[boomslang20117@]

PARIS — Ann Demeulemeester is to exit the fashion house that bears her name.

The Antwerp-based designer dispatched a PDF of a handwritten letter to announce her decision. “A new time is coming both for my personal life and the brand Ann Demeulemeester,” she wrote.

She said the brand now has “its own identity and legacy that is able to continue growing with out me.”

She noted that the company would show men’s and women’s collections for fall-winter 2014 together on Jan. 27 in Paris.

Anne Chapelle, who had been managing director of Demeulemeester’s Antwerp-based house since 1994, took what’s believed to be a majority stake in Demeulemeester’s company in 2005.

The company was also partly owned by Demeuelemeester’s husband, Patrick Robyn.

Chapelle also has a stake in Haider Ackermann.

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/ann-demeulemeester-to-exit-house-7284094

[Faust]

I just received the same, hand-written letter. Shocked.

[Shucks]

WTF X 1000.

this is a brand which can't easily be passed on to someone else. it's too closely associated with her image...

[zamb]

WTF X 1000.

this is a brand which can't easily be passed on to someone else. it's too closely associated with her image...

I personally am INCREDIBLY disturbed by this............

Designers, fight for your lives, become better businessmen and Women, and for the love of all that is good, DON'T SELL A MAJORITY STAKE IN YOUR COMPANY

[i-d-g]

between this and the closing of A, it's been an unfortunate couple of weeks here..

[Crowzer]

Wow...
Ann Demeulemeester label will never be the same...

[Tegro]

I personally am INCREDIBLY disturbed by this............

Designers, fight for your lives, become better businessmen and Women, and for the love of all that is good, DON'T SELL A MAJORITY STAKE IN YOUR COMPANY

Confused by this response - is there any indication that Ann is leaving because of issues with the ownership? She hasn't owned a majority stake for almost 10 years now... Her letter leaves the impression that she's ready to move on to something else, and (just the opposite of what you're implying actually) that she trusts her staff enough to continue on without her.

[zamb]

Confused by this response - is there any indication that Ann is leaving because of issues with the ownership? She hasn't owned a majority stake for almost 10 years now... Her letter leaves the impression that she's ready to move on to something else, and (just the opposite of what you're implying actually) that she trusts her staff enough to continue on without her.

Yea.......................keep dreaming

[Tegro]

Yea.......................keep dreaming

Well, as Ann herself wrote: "Ann Demeulemeester is an adult brand now with its own identity and legacy that is able to continue growing without me."

I'm sure some designers have issues with outside ownership, but many more do not, and in this case I'd rather focus on what we do know until something emerges to suggest otherwise. Is it ridiculous to imagine that she's ready to retire and do other things with her life?

[mrbeuys]

Is it ridiculous to imagine that she's ready to retire and do other things with her life?

Not at all. Fuck, I feel like that many a morning when I wake up.
It's incredibly difficult to leave something that has been such a central part to your life, so I trust she has good reasons. Kudos, however sad it might make us here.

Zamb, in the letter she says explicitly "I'm a happy and fulfilled person, ready to create new challenges in life." Sounds entirely plausible.

[MikeN]

But CCP is still OK right?!

[Faust]

My article on Ann Demeulemeester's exit in Business of Fashion.

Thank you, Ann Demeulemeester



Ann Demeulemeester | Photo: Willy Vanderperre

NEW YORK, United States — This morning I received a scanned, hand-written letter from the Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester, announcing her decision to part ways with her brand. First, it was heartwarming to see her familiar, beautiful script, and then came the shock of the content. “I feel it’s time to separate our paths,” she wrote.

After a few minutes my shock subsided. It is always terribly hard to see a designer exit the brand he or she has built from the ground up. But, the tone of the letter seemed peaceful, another chapter of Demeulemeester’s life closing and a new one beginning...

Continue here....

[AngelofDeath]

Wow, what a blow. But it does seem somewhat reassuring, the gentle conviction in the letter, giving the impression that the decision is her own and that she's at peace with it. What that means for the business of things, I suppose, is yet to be seen. It is wholly true that the house that Ann built will never be the same without her, but if she feels like it's time to step away, then I'm happy for her and wish her the best in whatever endeavors she chooses to pursue, even if it's propping her feet up and taking it easy.

[AngelofDeath]

Also, beautiful article, Eugene, to have been turned out so fast. I doubt there's anyone more equipped to reflect on the impact Ann has made, both personally and to the industry, than yourself. Cheers.

[Faust]

Thank you.