Vollbracht Quits As Bill Blass Creative Director

Michael Vollbracht - www.vogue.de

Designer Michael Vollbracht has resigned from his post as creative director of iconic American fashion house Bill Blass last week.

The American fashion designer, who has been the label’s creative director since 2003, said in a statement:

“I have appreciated the opportunity to carry on the tradition of Bill Blass, a man I admire more than I can say. It has been an incredible five years at Blass, I hope that I have made an important contribution to the company, and I look forward to seeing its continued success and growth in the years to come.”

While Bill Blass itself has released a statement through its parent company NexCen Brands Inc. confirming Vollbracht’s resignation and praising Vollbracht’s “valuable contributions” to the fashion house, it is no secret that the relationship between Vollbracht and the label has been troubled for some time.

Bill Blass hired Vollbracht, who once worked at Geoffrey Beene and Donald Brooks, two weeks after firing then-head designer Lars Nilsson the day after his spring ready-to-wear show in 2003. While the designer’s collections have been highly praised, it is said that the company’s bigwigs felt Bill Blass, which is known for its highly priced, beautifully cut womenswear, has not reached its potential to the fullest with Vollbracht at the helm.

Source