DUFOUR SAID TO INK BALMAIN CONTRACT
PARIS — Gilles Dufour has signed a contract to design ready-to-wear for the house of Balmain, according to market sources here.
Dufour, the longtime right hand of Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, left Chanel in April and last month was said to be in negotiations with the house over a severance package.
Neither Dufour nor Georgina Brandolini, managing director of Balmain, could be reached for comment.
Oscar de la Renta will continue to design haute couture for Balmain, sources noted.
Balmain has been looking for a new ready-to-wear designer since the end of May when the house severed its ties with young designer Andrew Gn. Gn, 32, was contracted last year to design Balmain’s ready-to-wear in an attempt to relaunch the collection, which had been marketed worldwide under myriad licenses.
But Gn’s debut collection in March was panned and major buyers canceled appointments after the Balmain fashion show. Gn’s own signature line, however, was well received.