Alber Elbaz surprises the fashion industry by stepping down from his position as the Creative Director of Lanvin. The Israeli designer, who joined the brand in 2001, has been breathing new life into Lanvin for the past 14 years, thanks to his playful and feminine designs that offered a new creative take on the Parisian Maison founded in 1889, while preserving the heritage of the iconic Jeanne Lanvin.

In a statement, Elbaz explained that his departure is the result of “the decision of the company’s majority shareholder”, the Taiwanese magnate Shaw-Lan Wang. Lanvin confirmed the designer’s departure on Wednesday evening, officially thanking Alber Elbaz for the chapter he has written for the French fashion house. In 2014, Lanvin had estimated revenues of 250 million euros (about $321 million), but the brand’s once-rapid growth has slowed and an additional support of a major luxury group might be necessary to take the luxury brand to the next level. The designer's departure follows Raf Simons recent departure from Dior and marks another round of fashion musical chairs — an occupational guessing game for the fashion industry, during which industry insiders predict the next designer to be appointed for the fashion brand's vacant post.

Picture courtesy of Lanvin.