Virginie Viard departs Chanel after succeeding Karl Lagerfeld
- Virginie Viard, the creative director of Chanel, is stepping down after replacing Karl Lagerfeld.
- This departure marks a significant change in leadership for the iconic fashion house.
- The successor to Virginie Viard at Chanel is yet to be named.
Virginie Viard, who took over from Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, is leaving the fashion house. Chanel hasn't named a new artistic director yet. Viard worked with Lagerfeld for over 20 years and became the artistic director after Lagerfeld passed away in 2019. Chanel praised Viard for refreshing the brand's style while honoring its traditions. Before becoming the artistic director, Viard didn't have an official design role but closely collaborated with Lagerfeld on all of Chanel's designs, including couture. Chanel will still showcase its new collection on June 25 in Paris. During Viard's time, Chanel's sales increased by 14.6% to $19.7 billion last year. The fashion house is optimistic about the future and believes in its team's ability to continue the brand's legacy during this transition. Chanel will announce a new creative setup for the brand soon.