Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud Exit Carven
Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud Exit Carven
The fashion industry’s revolving doors appear to show no sign of stopping. In fact they seem to be picking up quite a pace. Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud’s exit from Carven marks the third designer departure of the month, following Peter Dundas’ exit from Roberto Cavalli and Conseulo Casiglioni’s parting with Marni. Creative directors have swung in and out of office continually within the past year as fashion houses seek to accommodate the challenge of increased pressure to please consumers.
Martial and Caillaudaud only arrived at the French label recently, when they were appointed to oversee womenswear in March 2015. The pair met at the Atelier Chardon Savard Fashion School in Paris and both went on to work briefly at Givenchy. Before coming to Carven, Martial was previously creative director at Iceberg and before that Paco Rabanne whilst Caillaudaud was at Marc Jacobs.
The two succeeded Guillaume Henry, now at Nina Ricci, who was installed as creative director in 2009 and headed the brand’s re-launch in 2010. He led Carven’s departure from its haute couture roots to pursue a pioneering ready-to-wear label of casual elegance. This set it apart from many of the other French fashion brands, which focused on high-end luxury.
Over the course of Henry’s five-year term, his desire to move away from couture transformed the brand. Cavern was no longer a dormant old couture house but an exciting, quick and youthful brand that was also commercially successful. This momentum may have proved difficult for Martial and Caillaudaud to maintain. Whilst many of their pieces were commercially viable their collections seemed to lack the same excitement and fascination that were so prominent amongst Henry’s.
A statement released by Carven confirmed that a new artistic director would be appointed at a later date. Martial and Caillaudaud have not yet revealed any plans for the future.
Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud Exit Carven
