The longtime design director of the Prada Group, Fabio Zambernardi, is expected to resign as early as October. The upcoming spring/summer 24 collection is said to be his last for the Italian luxury fashion company.
Should Zambernardi leave the company, it would mean the end of a collaboration with Miuccia Prada that had lasted for more than four decades.
Speculations about his exit were reported by trade magazine WWD, which relies on industry sources. However, the Prada Group did not comment on the speculation.
Zambernardi’s relationship with Prada dates back to 1981. Back then, he initially collaborated with the brand before rising to show design director in 1997 and design fashion coordinator in 1999.
He assumed his current role as Design Director for Prada and Miu Miu in November 2002. Since then he has been responsible for all aspects of the two brands, including ready-to-wear and footwear.
In recent months, Prada Group has made a change at the helm of the company, consistently reporting “solid results” across its portfolio of luxury brands.
In January, Andrea Guerra joined the group as chief executive officer as the conglomerate announced a “strong start to the year” with growth across all markets and product categories and a recovery in demand in China.
Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of the Group, cited the “attractiveness of the brands” and the “disciplined implementation” as the main factors behind the success.
This translated post previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk