LVMH takes minority stake in J.W. Anderson

Luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has acquired a minority stake in London Fashion Week label J.W. Anderson, and named its eponymous designer creative director of luxury leather goods brand Loewe.The exact size of the

stake in J.W. Anderson or the financial terms has not been disclosed, but LVMH did confirm that Jonathan Anderson remains the majority shareholder of the company. Rumours of a partnership between the designer and the group, which owns Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and Celine, started circulating earlier this month and made his SS14 show one of the must see presentations of LFW.

Jonathan Anderson named creative director at Loewe

In addition to entering into a financial partnership with the designer to help the development of his eponymous label, the conglomerate also named the London-based designer as the creative director of the LVMH-owned Madrid-based Spanish label, Loewe.

Commenting on the partnership and appointment, Pierre-Yves Roussel, chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group said: “When Delphine Arnault and I first met Jonathan, we immediately felt that we could help him express the full potential of his innovative, fast emerging and already influential brand.

"While discussing our partnership and as we got to know him better, it became clear that his understanding of all creative facets of a brand and his capacity to transform tradition into an exciting vision for the present would make him also the perfect creative director for Loewe."

Anderson added: "For me, the process that led to this exciting partnership has been a natural one. LVMH has the resources and expertise in sharp, modern luxury and I believe we can work together to create something new.

"I am equally thrilled to join the house of Loewe, one of the oldest leather-goods houses in the world, where I have found an exceptional craftsmanship combined with purity and lightness.”

In his new role at Loewe, Anderson will succeed Stuart Vevers, who confirmed his exit from the Spanish brand after five years to join American brand Coach as the company’s new executive creative director, replacing Reed Krakoff.

“I am delighted to welcome Jonathan Anderson to Loewe to leverage the unique heritage of the house. His talent and his enthusiasm for the brand will definitely move Loewe forward to the next chapter of its history,” said Lisa Montague, chief executive officer of Loewe.

Born in Northern Ireland, Anderson attended the London College of Fashion and started his career designing menswear. The designer launched his label in 2008 and last year he launched a collaborative collection with Topshop and was the first guest designer to launch a capsule collection for Versace's sister line Versus.

Image: J.W. Anderson SS14