Stella McCartney set to join Gucci
It now looks certain that the British fashion designer Stella McCartney will join the Italian luxury goods house Gucci, where she will develop her own label alongside the firm's established brands of Gucci and YSL.
Ms. McCartney’s move from Paris-based Chloe, owned by the Swiss luxury goods group, Richemont, has been in the making for some months and it was originally intended that she would become head of design at Gucci’s women’s wear. Given the designer’s negative attitude towards the meat industry and its by-products, however, it is no surprise that the company has opted for stand-alone branding.
Ms. McCartney's appointment is consistent with Gucci Group’s strategy of emulating its second-largest shareholding organisation, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Möet Hennessy), which has a stable of luxury brands.
In addition to its main Gucci brand, which accounts for two-thirds of sales, Gucci Group owns Yves Saint Laurent, Rive Gauche and has majority stakes in Sergio Rossi, Bottega Veneta and Alexander McQueen.
