Daily Front Row

2012 April 3

Moving On: Simon Spurr Continues Sans Its Namesake Designer

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Simon Spurr
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

(NEW YORK) Simon Spurr will continue as a brand without its namesake founder, who abruptly exited the company on March 16 under mysterious circumstances. Spurr and co-founder Judd Nydes have been mum on the details but hint at disputes with financial backer Hugo Stenbeck. Spurr told WWD the catalyst for his "terribly difficult" decision to resign "had been going on for awhile" and "he had tried to work things out."

The designer expressed no intentions to return to, or join another, company but plans to stick around the menswear realm. In the meantime, Spurr will maintain his creative consulting position at Tommy Hilfiger menswear, a post he's held since November 2010. As for his eponymous brand, the show must go on.

“We regret Simon’s unfortunate decision to leave the company," Nydes told WWD via email. "The company plans to continue without Simon and is looking towards a bright future as its business continues to mature.” A replacement for Spurr has yet to be named.

Simon Spurr received his fourth CFDA nomination for Menswear Designer of the Year a week shy of his exit, and he will certainly be attending the ceremony on June 4. "Hell yeah. If they don’t vote for me this year, they’re not going to next year,” the designer said to WWD. “It’s now or never."