Derek Lam says farewell to his role as creative director of Tod’s and Alexa Chung has been appointed the spokesperson for the annual British Designers Collective.
The San Francisco-born designer joined Tod’s in 2006, one year after he first created a capsule collection for the brand.
However, according to WWD, his fall collection, presented during Milan Fashion Week last month, was his last for the Italian leather goods house.
While it is understood that his Tod’s contract would have been up in September, it is unclear why Derek has left the company six months early.
Speaking on his appointment to the company in 2006, Derek revealed his hopes to inject a “sense of youthfulness” into the brand.
He said, “I think it was a matter of being comfortable with how each of us, as individuals, work – getting more familiar with what the Tod’s world is and spending much time with Diego [Della Valle, Tod’s chairman and chief executive officer] and understanding his vision for the brand going forward. I hope to inject a sense of youthfulness and new ideas with fabrics and colours. I have a strong point of view about what a customer wants from a luxury brand: It has to be witty, unpretentious and stand for the heritage of beautifully made product.”
The model-presenter will host the launch of the initiative on March 21, which is a collaboration between the British Fashion Council and outlet shopping centre Bicester Village, allowing young British talents to retail their collections from a six-week pop-up shop.
Harold Tillman, chairman of the BFC, said, “The British Fashion Council is delighted to be continuing their collaboration with Bicester Village on the British Designers Collective boutique. This is a unique platform for London Fashion Week designers to showcase their designs to new audiences. This year’s dedicated menswear phase adds an extra dimension to the boldly British boutique and validates the excitement surrounding a year that celebrates all that is British.”
Designers including Peter Pilotto, Jonathan Saunders, Nicholas Kirkwood and Marios Schwab will also be at the launch.
Preen, Holly Fulton, Bella Freud, James Long, Goat, Emma Cook, Markus Lupfer, Hermione de Paula and Jean Pierre Braganza will all take part, as well as accessories designers Pauric Sweeney, Lily and Lionel, Mawi and Erickson Beamon.
