Slimane quits Dior Homme

Dior Homme and its star designer Hedi Slimane are parting ways and his successor is already lined up. Dior Homme, part of the LVMH luxury stable, is believed to have lost patience with the tiresome contract renegotiation procedure it endured with Slimane since June 2006. The latter is said to be a stickler for details and was determined to cling to as much control of the label as possible, much to the irritation of the Dior. According to Women's Wear Daily, the company is planning to replace Slimane with Belgian designer Kris Van Assche, who worked with Slimane before launching his own brand in 2005.

The split is a double blow for Slimane who had banked on Dior backing a Hedi Slimane fashion house. The designer had conquered the fashion world with his slightly androgynous, tailored men's wear creations but had hoped to branch out into other product categories like women's wear and lifestyle. However, Slimane and Dior's views on the value of the Hedi Slimane brand and control rights differed greatly. Ultimately, he was unwilling to give up ownership of his name, even though LVMH owns the companies that produce the collections of its other top designers like John Galliano and Marc Jacobs. Sources close to the designer told WWD that he was sad to leave Dior and had "tried to make things work", but had not wanted to compromise. It is as yet unclear what his plans are next, although he may find a backer for his own fashion house.

Meanwhile, Van Assche and Dior Homme are said to be in talks. A graduate of the famous fashion academy in Antwerp and a Dior Homme and Yves Saint Laurent alumnus, the young Belgian has been showing his signature label in Paris since 2005. It is not known whether he would continue his own label were he to become Dior Homme's head designer. Dior executives could not be reached for comment.