Paco Rabanne and Manish Arora part ways

Fashion house Paco Rabanne, owned by Spanish group Puig, has confirmed that it has parted ways with its creative director, Manish Arora, by a “mutual agreement” after just two seasons. The Indian designer, who joined the Paris-based label

last year, was brought on board to aid the resurgence of the brand, and to launch the brand’s women’s ready-to-wear line. Arora presented his first collection in October with a very theatrical show in Paris, which he followed up with a more commercial approach for his second collection in February, and seemed to be taking the fashion house in a new direction.

"We are most grateful to Manish for the work accomplished and the energy that he displayed all along this project," it said in the statement.

"The strong media impact of the past two seasons has enabled Paco Rabanne to partake with strength in the universe of contemporary fashion," it added, without explaining why Arora was leaving.

Arora, who has his own line of apparel, said in the statement: "Revisiting the Paco Rabanne fashion was a very enriching experience and an exceptional artistic and human adventure. I am, today, happy to have accomplished the mission I was trusted with in order to cast this iconic brand back into the spotlight."

Photo: Manish Arora for Paco Rabanne