Simon Spurr’s departure from his self-titled menswear label comes as a surprise and Haider Ackermann’s cryptic comments have fuelled speculation that he will fill John Galliano’s shoes at Dior.
The British designer stepped down from the post, with the shock decision taking the fashion world by surprise after he was recently nominated for the Council of Fashion Designers for America’s (CFDA) 2012 Menswear Designer of the Year prize.
Tommy Fazio, men’s fashion director at Nordstrom, first revealed the news via twitter.
Mr. Fazio, the former president of the high-end menswear label before joining Nordstrom, tweeted, “Sad day in fashion. Simon Spurr has left his company.”
In an email to WWD, Simon – who co-founded the New York-based company with partner Judd Nydes in 2006 – wrote, “At this moment, I’m not at liberty to say anything about what’s gone on.”
Earlier this year, Simon – who still retains his position of creative consultant for Tommy Hilfiger’s menswear division – sold his autumn-winter collection with European agent Futurenet.
Prior to founding his own brand, the designer worked at Yves Saint Laurent under Hedi Slimane and had previous stints at Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.
The Colombian designer – who runs his own eponymous label – has previously been linked to the position of creative director at Dior, which has been vacant since the sacking of John Galliano a year ago.
Ackermann has now said there are only two couture brands he would love to work for.
He remarked, “There are two houses I would be interested in. Two where I feel there is shared sensibility, and I could bring something else of myself to the house, which isn’t expressed in my own line.”
Haider has also previously been linked to the creative director role at Chanel, after Karl Lagerfeld nominated him as his potential successor.
Haider says he doesn’t understand people who complain about the pressure which comes with taking over at an established fashion house.
He added to the Financial Times newspaper, “Look, let’s be honest. You can’t just blame the system. We are all responsible for our own lives. I find it difficult when people complain about the pressure. This is fashion, it’s not surgery. It’s a job; a job with a lot of dreams woven in.”
Raf Simons, Christopher Kane and Marc Jacobs have all been linked to the vacant position at Dior.
