Berluti confirms Kris Van Assche as artistic director

Luxury group LVMH has confirmed the appointment for former Dior Homme chief designer Kris Van Assche as artistic director of Berluti.

Van Assche will be responsible for shoes, leathergoods, ready-to-wear and accessories collections at the men's luxury house and replaces Haider Ackermann, who had been in charge for just three seasons having replaced previous creative director Alessandro Sartori in 2016.

Ackermann's departure was revealed over the weekend prompting speculation that Van Assche would be taking over. Van Assche had, until recently, been heading up Dior Homme (where he had been for 11 years) but it was revealed last month that British designer Kim Jones would be taking over that role, having previously headed up menswear for LVMH flagship brand Louis Vuitton.

Kim Jones

Antoine Arnault, CEO of Berluti said of the appointment: “I am delighted to welcome Kris Van Assche to Berluti. I have known him for several years, have always admired his work at Dior Homme and I am looking forward to working with him.”

Van Assche, whose first collection for Berluti will be presented at Paris Men's Fashion Week in January 2019, added: “I have always wanted to build bridges between the savoir-faire, the heritage of a house and my clear-cut contemporary vision. Antoine Arnault spoke to me of his ambitions for Berluti and it is with great pleasure that I accept this new challenge which fits perfectly with my own will and vision. I would also like to thank Mr Bernard Arnault [LVMH chairman and CEO] for his renewed confidence.”

Virgil Abloh

The move is the latest in a line of changes at the head of LVMH houses. Following Jones' departure from LVMH, it was revealed last month that Off-White founder and Kanye West collaborator Virgil Abloh would be taking over at Louis Vuitton menswear.

LVMH also announced in January that it would be adding a menswear line to womenswear brand Céline and has appointed Hedi Slimane to head up the entire house, indirectly replacing outgoing British designer Phoebe Philo. Slimane had previously been creative director at Kering-owned Yves Saint Laurent and before that artistic director at Dior Homme.