Daily Front Row

2012 June 19

Elie Tahari Staffs Up Design Team

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Elie Tahari Spring 2012
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

(NEW YORK) Elie Tahari is restructuring his company and amping up his design team with the help of three new hires: Ingo Wilts, Fred Tutino, and Gilles Blanchard. Wilts, who racked up nine years as senior vice president and creative director at Hugo Boss, recently decamped from Kenneth Cole Productions (KCP), where he served in the same capacity. He will now assume the role as creative director at Elie Tahari, overseeing men's and women's, T Tahari, all company licenses, and the e-comm business. Interestingly, his Tahari predecessor, Kobi Halperin, joined KCP as the new creative director of women's sportswear. Coincidental swap? Absolument, says Tahari.

“Ingo resigned [from KCP] about six months ago, and I think Kobi just started there,” Tahari told WWD. “Kenneth is my friend and I wish him all the best, and so is Kobi. He is a good guy."

Additionally, Tutino was tapped as the new director of women's design. Most recently, he was the creative director of Roberto Torretta for four years; prior to that stint, he was the design director for Zara womenswear. He will report to Tahari.

Meanwhile, Blanchard has been named Tahari's new design director of menswear. Before landing at Elie Tahari, Blanchard boosted his menswear CV with design director positions at the likes of Joe Fresh, Theory, and Calvin Klein. He will report to Tahari and Wilts.
MARIA DENARDO