Jil Sander announces departure from namesake label

Minimalist fashion legend Jil Sander has announced that her latest Spring-Summer 2014 show will be her last under the Jil Sander banner, with the 69-year-old’s departure “motivated by personal reasons” according to the brand.

She founded the label in Hamburg in 1968, before selling the company to Prada in 1999 and then leaving a year later. Sander then made a short comeback in 2003, before again exiting for a period in which she worked with Japanese high street label Uniqlo on a series of +J collections. The German designer returned to the brand just over 18 months ago in February 2012 for her third stint in charge. 

“On behalf of the group I want to thank Jil Sander for her remarkable contribution to the brand over this period,” said Jil Sander CEO Alessandro Cremonesi. “Her outstanding design and creative leadership have been crucial in reinforcing the brand and positioning it to foster further prosperous growth,” he added. 

Raf Simons, currently in the creative director role at Parisian luxury giant Christian Dior, was previously in the hot seat at Jil Sander, leading the design team from 2005 to 2012. We can’t wait to see who the brand announces as a permanent replacement.