Clements Ribeiro quit Cacharel

British design duo Inacio Ribeiro and Suzanne Clements have quit their post as artistic directors for iconic, feminine French fashion firm Cacharel. After seven years with the company, they are to be replaced by Central Saint Martin's alumn Esther Angula. According to Ribeiro, the split was amicable. Angula, 33, worked with the duo at Cacharel and has also held positions at Emilio Pucci, working with artistic director Christian Lacroix, and worked as a consultant for Prada.

According to Cacharel founder, Jean Bousquet, the brand had become "too designer" and it was time for a change. "The collections weren't selling very well," he told WWD. "We'd strayed too far from the Cacharel spirit. The stores were complaining." Bousquet says Angula understands "the Cacharel spirit".

With Clements and Ribeiro's last collection for Cacharel being spring 2008, Angula will make her debut in the fall of next year. Bousquet also said that the company's general manager, Chrystel Abadie-Truchet, had left the company for personal reasons and her replacement is being looked for.