Carven discontinues menswear collection

Upon revealing that it has let its menswear designer Barnabé Hardy go, French fashion label Carven said it has decided to discontinue its menswear collection following a change in ownership.

According to a report by WWD, Hardy is leaving the fashion house after eighteen months. In a statement, Carven CEO Sophie de Rougemont called Hardy ‘the soul of Carven’s men’s collection’ and said theirs had been an ‘exceedingly inspirational collaboration’.

Barnabé Hardy is leaving Carven after eighteen months

The family-owned Hong Kong-based fashion company, Bluebell Group, took a majority stake in Carven in May of this year after having acquired a minority stake in 2011. De Rougemont took over as CEO from Henri Sebaoun, after having been group fashion director at Bluebell. Prior to that, she worked as managing director and fashion director for the group in Hong Kong.

Bluebell distributes fashion, fragrance, food and home brands throughout Asia. Its portfolio includes high-end brands such as Loro Piana, Calvin Klein, Moschino, Fendi and Jimmy Choo.

Founded in 1945 by the French couturier Marie-Louise Carven, the label was taken over by Société Béranger in 2008. Its artistic director at the time, Guillaume Henry, turned the old-fashioned house on its head and repositioned it as a contemporary label.

Following Henry’s departure to Nina Ricci, Carven chose three designers to replace him. Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud were appointed joint artistic directors of womenswear, while Hardy was made responsible for menswear.

Hardy, a Balenciaga alum, said in a statement that he would ‘always have a deep affection for Carven’. What his next step will be, is as yet unknown.

Image: Barnabé Hardy/Carven Facebook