It’s official — Peter Copping is leaving Nina Ricci. Spring 2015 is his final collection for the French fashion house.
News of Copping’s imminent departure first surfaced in WWD on September 12, along with speculation that the designer was decamping to head up Oscar de la Renta. (ODLR’s PR denied the reports last month.) Either way, Ralph Toledano, president of Puig, the parent company of Nina Ricci, has some big shoes to fill. In the span of five years, Copping has managed to reinvigorate an 82-year-old brand with declining sales into an A-list sensation with stars like Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara championing his gowns on the red carpet.
Carven‘s Guillaume Henry is likely the front-runner in this race. Last week, the Frenchman stepped down from the creative director role he’s held since 2009. Known as a young Yves Saint Laurent, Henry is credited with relaunching the dormant couture house as a ready-to-wear label, producing wearable luxury collections that were both acclaimed by editors and a commercial success. Something Copping knows a thing or two about.
Simone Rocha is another name in the basket. The 28-year-old Irish designer, and daughter of designer John Rocha, is a rising star on the British fashion scene. Since graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2010, Rocha has launched a successful brand, produced a capsule collection for Topshop and garnered a cult following with her smart perspex brogues. Her knack for crafting incredibly feminine designs that steer clear of anything too prim and proper would serve her well at a house like Nina Ricci. Only time will tell.
[via WWD]
