Kim Jones is parting ways with Louis Vuitton. Women's Wear Dailyis reporting Jones will exit LV after presenting the brand's fall 2018 collection in Paris on Thursday. Jones himself confirmed his departure on Instagram on Wednesday.
"It has been a huge privilege to work with Kim," Michael Burke, LV's chairman and chief executive officer, said after the news about Jones' departure became public. "All of us who have been fortunate to work with Kim wish him continued success in his next venture."
Jones was appointed LV's men's artistic director in 2011 and has been largely credited with breathing new life into the storied fashion house. The English designer's implementation of streetwear sensibilities has received praise from fashion icons Kanye West and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh. He was also instrumental in the wildly popular and highly coveted Louis Vuitton x Supreme collaboration.
"Some critics say that I’m just jumping on the bandwagon, but actually I’m not. [Streetwear has] always been part of my DNA," Jones told SCMP in 2017. "[Streetwear] is the modern contemporary menswear. Look at the Japanese streetwear designers such as Undercover: the details of the clothes are just incredible. It’s really intelligent menswear."
It's unclear if Jones will take a role with another fashion brand, however, Business of Fashion reports there are rumors of him moving to Burberry.
In September 2017, WWD reported Versace was looking to hire Jones as its creative director, but at the time, his deal with LV seemed to pose the biggest challenge.
"No contract has been signed and the likelihood of a deal could not immediately be learned," the publication reported. "It is understood that the biggest barrier is a contractual one: [In 2016], the Englishman renewed his employment agreement at Vuitton."
LV has not yet announced Jones' replacement.
