Nicola Formichetti to part ways with Diesel

Nicola Formichetti has announced he is leaving his role as artistic director of Italian denim-led premium brand Diesel after five years.

The Italian-Japanese creative, who also heads up his own label Nicopanda, announced the move in an Instagram post this afternoon saying: "I’m sad to announce that at the end of this year I will be stepping down as artistic director of Diesel. Thank you all at diesel for the most amazing 5 years!! And thank you [Diesel founder] Renzo Rosso for allowing me to be creative. It was so much fun!!! Wishing Diesel all the best for the next chapter."

On his feed Rosso, who founded Diesel almost 40 years ago, said: "Thank you my dear Nicola Formichetti for these great 5 years together in Diesel. I wish you all the best for your future!" Formichetti's contract with Diesel was due to expire at the end of this year and was not renewed, and so far no direct replacement has been announced.

Earlier this year Formichetti collaborated with Amazon Fashion on a see now, buy now collection for Nicopanda which was shown during London Fashion Week and was available to buy directly after the show ended. A serial creative, prior to Diesel he was creative director at Mugler and he rose to prominence in the late 2000s as a key creative collaborator of Lady Gaga.