Nicolas Di Felice exits Courrèges after five years
French fashion house Courrèges has parted ways with its Artistic Director Nicolas Di Felice after five years, as the Belgian designer looks to focus on "personal projects".
Di Felice had been in the role since September 2020. Prior to that, he worked behind the scenes at fashion houses including Balenciaga, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton, where he became a senior womenswear designer under Nicolas Ghesquière's leadership.
"What an amazing adventure! I still remember with so much affection my very first day in this beautiful house, where everything had to be rebuilt," Di Felice commented in a post on his personal Instagram.
Under Di Felice's leadership, the fashion house went through a period of renewal, translating the house's Space Age aesthetic and architectural precision for a modern audience.
In an official statement, Courrèges thanked Di Felice for his contributions to the house's legacy and confirmed that a new Artistic Director would be officially named next week, paving the way for the next phase of its reinvention.
Courrèges was founded in 1961 by André and Coqueline Courrèges, and has been wholly owned by the Pinault family's principal investment company, Artémis, since 2018. The Pinault family owns the luxury fashion conglomerate Kering, placing Courrèges in a similar orbit to Kering's brands, which include Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Gucci.
"I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all the people who contributed - with their talent and their work, in one way or another - to the rebirth of Courrèges," Di Felice added.
"I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who believe in me and in the project - François, François-Henri, my love Roderick Buijs, the stylists, models, photographers, journalists, buyers, and so many others who supported us along the way.
"I am leaving the house to dedicate myself to other projects, but I will always keep an unforgettable memory of this incredible journey and wish the house all the very best of its future."
