Giles Deacon rumoured to head to Daks

London Fashion Week favourite Giles Deacon, who's label Giles is still one of the most direction brands to show in London, is rumoured to be a contender for a design post at Daks. The British luxury brand, designed by Tiziano Mazzilli and Louise Michielsens, was launch three season's ago. The spring -7 collection that was shown in a presentation in Milan this week will be the last by the two designers, whose three-season contract has not been renewed. It is believed that Deacon's appointment will be announced in Paris next week.

News of the role has surprised the fashion industry. Many expected Deacon to hold out for a role of a more high profile fashion house. Womenswear design director Anthony Cuthbertson left the company this week and is understood to be launching his own label. Bruce Montgomery, Daks menswear design director, is also chairman of the British Menswear Guild. For this financial year, Daks' pre-tax losses doubled to £3.2 million for the year to eh end of January, from £1.6m the previous year, although sales grew 3.8 per cent to £21.2m.

UK sales made up 27% of turnover, while those from Asia and Australia made up 56% and the rest of Europe comprised 16%. Deacon's label Giles is one of the first two designer labels to be supported by the new British Fashion Council Fashion Forward scheme, sponsored by property developer Westfield. The scheme aims to help designers make the transition from young talent to successful designer business by providing funding for catwalk shows and business development.