Is Christopher Kane trading Versus for Balenciaga?
Scottish designer Christopher Kane is leaving Versus, the Versace sister line. After the brand took a four year break Christopher joined in 2009 and helped it to re-launch. Christopher stood out to Donatella Versace and Vogue’s Anna Wintour when he was still a student at the renowned Central Saint Martin’s College, he was initially offered a full time position at the prestigious Versace but instead became consultant at Versus.
Christopher designed six seasons for Versus and his time at the brand includes many sartorial highlights. In his Spring 2009 collection models at Versus took to the catwalk in Planet of the Apes inspired pieces and not forgetting the firm favourite peek-a-boo dress which is still popular among the fashion pack today.
News that Christopher was leaving Versus raised eyebrows across the fashion sector but he and Versace Chief Executive, Gian Giacomo Ferraris, have said that the decision is amicable and mutually beneficial.
Christopher’s departure marks a new era for Versus as the label changes into a season-less brand which will launch a series of collaborations between Donatella Versace and promising young designers. The debut of the Versus’s new direction is set for March or April next year.
Christopher’s leaving Versus has fuelled one of the biggest fashion rumours we’ve had in seasons as thousands of tweets and articles have him penned as the next designer for fashion power house Balenciaga. The rumours have spread so quickly as his departure coincided closely with Nicolas Ghesquière’s, who has been at the helm of Balenciaga for 15 years. As tantalising as this move may be to fashion lovers Christopher has officially denied these rumours, so don’t get your hopes up just yet.
The guessing game of who will replace Ghesquière could continue for some time as we know from the great Dior mystery. Isabelle Guichot, Balenciaga CEO confirmed that a short-list is in place and an announcement will be made as soon as they are ready. Other designers rumoured to be in line for the post include Alexander Wang, Joseph Altuzarra and Mary Katrantzou.
Christopher has confirmed that he will be focusing more on his eponymous label which he shows at London Fashion Week twice a year.
