Fashion industry in 2011 abandoned its original artistic bases
==============================================================
In the whirlwind of fashion, 2011 was a year of significant changes. Here's a roundup of some of the most notable events that shaped the industry.
One of the most prominent developments was the acquisition of 45% of Jean Paul Gaultier's fashion firm by the Catalan company Puig for 30 million euros in May. Gaultier joined Puig's fashion division, which already includes Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci, and Carolina Herrera.
Meanwhile, Hermès, another iconic fashion house, signed Christophe Lemaire to lead the artistic direction in May 2010. Lemaire made his debut in September 2011, distancing himself from Gaultier's work to explore new shapes, silhouettes, and colours on the runway.
Puig also set its sights on relaunching the fashion division of Paco Rabanne. In 2011, they hired Indian creator Manish Arora to occupy the creative direction of the firm's women's collection.
The year was not without its scandals. John Galliano, formerly of Christian Dior, was found guilty in a trial held in September and will have to pay a fine of 6,000 euros. Galliano was suspended and later fired from Christian Dior in February 2011 over a scandal involving anti-Semitic insults. Christian Dior, owned by LVMH, dethroned Galliano from the Parisian haute couture firm.
Balmain's creative director, Christopher Decarnin, stopped collaborating with the French company in April 2011 due to a bad relationship with the company's presidency. Olivier Rousteing, Decarnin's right-hand man since 2005, was hired to replace Decarnin at Balmain.
ChloΓ© dispensed with its creative mind, Hannah MacGibbon, in an attempt to make way for Clare Waight Keller to join the company in 2011.
Ungaro experienced continuous changes in its creative direction in 2011, with Estrella Archs and Lindsay Lohan, and Giles Deacon leaving the firm in September.
On a positive note, Sarah Burton, who took over the artistic direction of Alexander McQueen after the designer's death, was responsible for designing Kate Middleton's wedding dress in 2011.
These events and more marked 2011 as a year of transformation and change in the fashion world. As we look back, it's clear that these changes have set the stage for the industry's continued evolution.
