GANT ELEVATES BASTIN: Sweden-based Gant AB has named Christopher Bastin creative director, expanding his oversight from the younger Gant Rugger line he currently designs. Effective Aug. 1, the promotion brings the core Gant collection — which accounted for the bulk of its $1.23 billion in sales last year — under Bastin’s creative direction. Current Gant creative director Bob Andrews will exit the company on July 31. New York-based Michael Bastian will continue to design the Gant by Michael Bastian collection.
“We are confident that [Bastin’s] unique and subtle point of view, and passion for American sportswear will invigorate the company,” said Gant chief executive officer Dirk-Jan Stoppelenburg. The company, which was originally founded in New Haven in 1949, is a unit of Switzerland-based Maus Frères SA.