Paul Andrew is Departing Ferragamo
After five years as creative director, the English designer is leaving the Florence-based luxury brand—but that's not the only change for Ferragamo.
Paul Andrew is parting his ways with Ferragamo after five years. The English designer is behind some of the most iconic projects from the brand in recent history, and will step down after debuting his Pre-Spring 2022 collection in early May.
Andrew was hired as the women's shoes creative director for the Italian brand in 2016, and was promoted to women's creative director a year later. In 2019, he was again promoted to creative director for all of Ferrgamo's collections. He achieved significant success in making the brand younger and more dynamic, following his work at Calvin Klein, Alexander McQueen, and Donna Karan previously. As well, his self-titled shoe brand launched in 2012 won the CFDA-Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2014.
Andrew's departure is also leading to major changes in Ferragamo's family board of directors. According to the statements, current president Ferruccio Ferragamo will be replaced by his brother, Leonardo. As part of this change, three independent board members will also be included in the brand. Giacomo Ferragamo, who also oversees product development projects and hired Andrew, will return to the board of directors after resigning last year, while the company's founder's daughter, Giovanna, will leave her job at the company. Vice President Michele Norsa and CEO Micaela Le Divelec Lemmi, who rejoined the company last year, are expected to remain with the company.
Within the luxury fashion industry, Salvatore Ferragamo remains one of the few global brands that has managed to remain independent. Over the years, the brand has been a potential acquisition target for many groups or private investors, but the Ferragamo family did not consider any sale seriously. Due to the impact of the pandemic on independent brands such as Ferragamo, the brand's sales fell 33 percent in 2020, the first loss Ferragamo has seen since going public in Milan 10 years ago.
Salvatore Ferragamo has not yet announced the future of the creative director position, and Andrew has not yet shared plans for his next step.
