Fashion house Valentino names 2 new designers

Italian fashion house Valentino said on Saturday it had named its in-house accessories designers as joint creative directors of the brand. Outgoing designer Alessandra Facchinetti said she learned about her dismissal from press reports.

"Valentino S.p.A. is ending its collaboration with Alessandra Facchinetti due to differences," the fashion house said in a statement, without elaborating. "Her creative contribution and her artistic refinement have been greatly appreciated."

Facchinetti, 36, was hired last year to replace the house's founder, Valentino Garavani, who retired in January after 45 years of dressing royalty, first ladies and movie stars.

Facchinetti showed her second ready-to-wear collection for the house on Friday.

In a statement released through her Milan representative, Facchinetti said she was bitterly disappointed with the company's handling of the dismissal.

"It was with deep regret that I learnt from the press that I would no longer be working with Valentino. This news came as a great surprise, since the company's top management has not yet seen fit to inform me of the above," she said.

"Despite everything that has happened, I sincerely feel that this experience has empowered me because I know that my work has been deeply appreciated throughout the world," she said.

Her newly announced successors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, have been creating the accessories for Valentino for more than 10 years.

"We are very excited and honored by this opportunity," Valentino's statement quotes Chiuri and Piccioli as saying. "We will remain faithful to the fundamental values of the brand, while developing new ideas which fuse the heritage of the house with a more contemporary concept."

Garavani and his longtime business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, welcomed the move and struck a parting blow at Facchinetti.

"There is an archive of thousands of dresses that one can draw from to be inspired and create a Valentino product that keeps up with the times," the retired designer was quoted as saying by Italy's ANSA news agency. "Shame the one who came before them did not feel this need."

He praised Chiuri and Piccioli as capable professionals who have "always showed enormous respect and love for my work."

"I wish them the best of luck," he was quoted as saying.

The situation was reminiscent of events at Italian label Gucci three years ago. Facchinetti was replaced after just two seasons as the brand's women's wear designer. Her replacement was Frida Giannini, also an accessories specialist.