Joseph appoints new creative director

Leading British designer-retailer and wholesaler has appointed Alison Buddenhagen as creative director for its own brand. Buddenhagen (36) joins the company from Burberry, where she was creative director of the younger, lower-priced Thomas Burberry collection. She previously also worked at Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. At Joseph she will take up where founder Joseph Ettedgui left off, "carrying on and continuing" his work, according to a spokeswoman for the brand. She will report to managing director Marc Forestier.

At present, Joseph has more than 20 stand-alone stores worldwide, including locations like London, Tokyo, Paris and New York. The brand also has more than 30 in-store boutiques in department stores. It wholesales its label in 35 countries. The company was bought by Japanese fashion manufacturer, retailer and distributor Onward Kashiyama last year for $258 million. Prior to that, it was owned by investment firm Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille.