Confirmed: Alber Elbaz is leaving Lanvin

Still reeling from the news that Raf Simons had resigned from his role as artistic director at Christian Dior, the fashion world received another shock today: Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz is to exit the house following fourteen years in charge.

The news, which was confirmed by a Lanvin spokesperson this afternoon, comes less than a week after Dior announced that Simons would not renew his contract after just 3 and half years in the job.

While Simons cited a desire “to focus on other interests” as the reason behind his departure, Elbaz’s exit is said to have come down to a decision made by the company's majority stake holder.

The announcement follows rumours of disagreements between Elbaz and company bosses: owner Shaw-Lan Wang and chief executive officer Michèle Huiban.

Elbaz is revered across the world for his effortless elegance – an aesthetic that has defined his reign at Lanvin. When he joined the brand in 2001, Lanvin had only 15 wholesale accounts; today, the company has over 400 stockists.

A former protégé of Yves Saint Laurent, the Morocco born designer, 54, creates six collections a year for the French fashion house and is said to hold stake in the company.

Notoriously tight-lipped on business matters, Elbaz has never spoken publically about his investment into the house which has declared his involvement untenable. “What does it matter? I am happily married to the house of Lanvin” he has previously said.

The designer, who was in talks with Dior following the sacking of John Galliano in 2011, has also spoken of his pride in remaining dedicated to the “Lanvin story”.

But teports published on Womenswear Daily today suggested that tensions between Elbaz and Wang have been building of late with Elbaz gunning for Wang to sell her stake in the business following a year of bad sales and falling profits.

The designer’s departure is set to further fuel rumours that Elbaz could be the right man to take over Simons at Christian Dior.

Elbaz prides himself on being one of the few remaining designers to head up a full atelier – a dedication that will undoubtedly appeal to Dior boss Sidney Toledano who is looking to fill the top job with a couturier who is respectful of the house’s legacy.