Bouchra Jarrar Is Leaving Lanvin

After 16 months as the artistic director of Lanvin’s women’s collections, Bouchra Jarrar will depart Paris’s oldest maison.

First published in Vogue

The news was confirmed by both Jarrar and a Lanvin representative today, with the brand issuing the following statement: “Lanvin and Bouchra Jarrar have mutually decided to put an end to their collaboration. This decision is effective as of today. Madame Wang wishes to thank Bouchra Jarrar, who since her arrival brought her talent to serve the company. Bouchra Jarrar thanks Madame Wang for her trust. She wishes most particularly to acknowledge the work of the teams with whom she collaborated to express creativity and French know-how. Bouchra Jarrar will now concentrate on new projects.”

Jarrar was appointed to the role of artistic director after the surprise departure of Alber Elbaz in October 2015 and shuttered her own namesake collection to fully devote herself to her duties at Lanvin. Elbaz had been the brand’s creative director for 14 years, credited for turning Lanvin into a 21st-century name and for popularizing a liberated, deshabille spirit at the brand. When Jarrar arrived, she replaced Elbaz’s exuberant draping and ruching with her own signatures that had been established at her couture maison—namely slim tailoring and a wealth of feathers and furs. Though her collections received mixed reviews and Lanvin remained under commercial pressures that began during Elbaz’s tenure, Jarrar remains a favorite of the fashion community. Just last week she was awarded Paris’s Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, a high civilian honor bestowed on those in creative fields.

At that ceremony, Jarrar made a brief statement: “I chose this profession because I love it, and I am very lucky to be able to do it. I learn something new every day. I know what I want, and what I don’t.” She added, “I’m fortunate enough to be able to create beautiful things because I’ve always been surrounded by good souls. Positive things are all that interest me. My motor is living—and being free.”

by  STEFF YOTKA