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PARIS — LVMH-owned Patou announced the departure of artistic director Guillaume Henry and said it was reconsidering its future strategy, the French fashion house said on Friday.
“This mutual decision will allow Guillaume to fully dedicate himself to other projects, while the Maison explores a different format for its future evolution,” Patou said in a statement.
The move comes as LVMH works to tightens its focus to navigate the prolonged downturn in fashion luxury.
Henry was handpicked by LVMH’s Sidney Toledano to resurrect the fashion label most famous for its historic perfume “Joy.”
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Henry in 2019 debuted his designs for the fashion house, which had been helmed by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix in its over 100-year history.
The project to revive Patou was also led by its former ceo Sophie Brocart, who left in 2024 to head a circularity project at Chanel.
Henry was “a craftsman of Patou’s renewal and, during these seven years, he succeeded in offering ambitious collections that captivated critics and clients at each presentation,” Toledano said in the statement.
Learn more:
How LVMH Plans To Revive Patou
On Wednesday, designer Guillaume Henry will present his first collection for Patou as LVMH aims to breathe new life into the heritage brand, in part by commissioning a documentary film.
Disclosure: LVMH is part of a group of investors who, together, hold a minority interest in The Business of Fashion. All investors have signed shareholders’ documentation guaranteeing BoF’s complete editorial independence.
