Daily Front Row

2012 October 24

Azzaro Loses Creative Director Mathilde Castello Branco

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Mathilde Castello Branco
Edouard Paturel View Gallery

(NEW YORK) Just over a year after being appointed as creative director at Azzaro, Mathilde Castello Branco is parting ways with the label. Branco's resumé before joining Azzaro last September includes stints at Lanvin under Alber Elbaz, and at Hermès during Martin Margiela's tenure there. Branco's first collection for Azzaro bowed in January of this year, with the Spring '13 collection presumably marking the French-Brazilian designer's last. The next foray for Branco, an alum of École Duperré and Atelier Chardon-Savard, has yet to be announced; ditto for the creative director who will succeed her at Azzaro.

Branco's predecessor, Vanessa Seward, decamped from chez Azzaro in March 2011; Seward assumed her post in 2003, following Loris Azzaro's death. Under Seward's stewardship, the 45-year-old French label got an injection of celeb-donned buzz thanks to tapis rouge moments on the likes of Natalie Portman and Michelle Williams, which Branco continued during her brief time at the label, garnering primarily positive feedback. Seward has since created a well-received capsule collection for A.P.C.

However, this latest pairing apparently wasn't a parfait fit for either party: ''The House of Azzaro and Mathilde Castello Branco are moving forward in different directions," according to a statement released by the brand. Stay tuned.