Last week, we reported that designer Haider Ackermann was departing Berluti after just three seasons at the helm, leaving the artistic director seat of the Parisian design house conspicuously unfilled. We also noted that, if one were inclined to bet on this sort of thing, one could do worse than wagering that former Dior Homme designer would be the man to take the position.
Here's hoping you took the advice (and found a bookie who deals in fashion rumours). Because Van Assche was just announced as Berluti's artistic director, overseeing shoes, leather goods, ready-to-wear, and accessories. His first show will be in January of 2019.
Berluti CEO Antoine Arnault said he's "delighted" to have Van Assche join the house in a statement. He continued, "I have known him for several years, have always admired his work at Dior Homme, and I am looking forward to working with him."
Van Assche is also excited. And though he's the first to note that the pared-down, urban aesthetic he pushed at Dior Homme might not initially seem like a natural fit for Berluti's tendency towards more classic luxury, he's looking forward to the challenges ahead. "I have always wanted to build bridges between the savoir-faire, the heritage of a house, and my clear-cut contemporary vision," he said in a statement. "Antoine Arnault spoke to me of his ambitions for Berluti, and it is with great pleasure that I accept this new challenge which fits perfectly with my own will and vision."
