Some of the most established fashion designers might be considering their successors following their departure, but they’re not talking.  Designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani are all in their 70′s, and thoughts of retirement must weigh heavily.  Even if their successors have been named, the designers are keeping silent.  Lagerfeld has already decided that he will work forever, and Chanel has publically stated that “[h]is succession is not on the agenda.” Armani, de la Renta and Lauren are the founders of their respective houses and their departure will definitely leave a void.  Any successor will be confronted with a true legacy.

So far successors of other notable fashion houses have been faced with challenges that saw them leaving prematurely and/or unceremoniously.  Tom Ford had a negative experience at Yves Saint Laurent and Lars Nilsson was essentially forced out at Gianfranco Ferre.  For now, Martin Margiela is the only house to forgo the successor route; the founder Martin Margiela will not be replaced.  Will other fashion houses take this path?  The answer will likely be dependent on the next two or three seasons at Martin Margiela, and the Margiela experiment.

Tough to let go for 70-something fashion designers [Reuters]

Sources Say It’s ‘Inconceivable’ That Chanel Isn’t Thinking About Karl Lagerfeld’s Succession [The Cut]

Martin Margiela Spring 2009

Martin Margiela has made his final curtain call at the house of Margiela.  It comes as no surprise because the rumors have been rampant about his impending exit for over a year.  He leaves his fashion house after 20 years and there are no plans to replace him.  Margiela will now have a creative staff instead of one creative head; this team benefits from the designer’s creative nurturing over the years.  Only time will tell if this new effort will be successful.  So far the last applauded collection at the fashion house was the elusive designer’s ‘backwards’ collection in spring 2009; both the fall 2009 and spring 2010 collections received luke-warm receptions.  It is believed that Martin Margiela did not have a hand in either collection.  Can a group be as successful at communicating a cohesive vision as one creative leader? That remains to be seen and we’ll be watching.