Stuart Weitzman creative director Giovanni Morelli is out, after only one year with the brand. Tapestry Inc. announced his departure late Monday afternoon.
Morelli — a former leather goods designer for Loewe, Marc Jacobs and Chloé — had relocated to New York for the Weitzman job last May.
In a statement announcing Morelli’s departure, Tapestry chief executive officer Victor Luis said: “While we greatly admire Giovanni’s creative talents, Tapestry is committed to an environment where every individual feels respected and at times his behavior fell short of these standards. Looking ahead, we have the utmost confidence in the talented Stuart Weitzman design team under the direction of ceo and brand president Eraldo Poletto, who has a proven track record of developing iconic brands and successfully building global teams.”
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Stuart Weitzman declined WWD’s request for further comment.
Morelli presented his first — and ultimately only — collection for the Weitzman label in February during New York Fashion Week. It included the brand’s foray into handbags and small leather goods, as well as a reinvigorated outlook on shoes to include trendier styles. Morelli had also planned revised branding and retail concepts.
At the time, Morelli told WWD of his plans for the Weitzman label: “The strategy of the brand is to give a more cohesive point of view, but also to create wardrobe essentials. I would really like to have, in-store, pumps with different heel heights — just like with jeans how you want slim fit and regular fit offered in the store. This sense of offering is a bit American, which I like.”
In January 2015, Coach Inc., now known as Tapestry, acquired the Stuart Weitzman brand from Sycamore Partners for $574 million. At the time, Weitzman himself pledged to gradually phase out his involvement in the label over the course of two years, according to a source.
Morelli’s departure is the latest shake-up for the Stuart Weitzman. Late last month, Wendy Kahn was pushed out as ceo after less than two years with the label. Her posting was filled by Salvatore Ferragamo ceo Eraldo Poletto. At the time of his appointment, Tapestry said that Poletto would be “partnering closely with the brand’s creative director, Giovanni Morelli.”