Alberta Ferretti has stepped down as creative director of her eponymous brand. The fashion designer - whose last show was on September 17 in Milan - launched her brand in 1981, and she admitted the decision was "a difficult, complicated, but a very thoughtful" one. In an open letter, she wrote: "It's time for me to make room for a new chapter for my brand, a new narrative.
" She insisted the decision was made with "serenity and awareness", while the brand will keep her name. She continued: "Soon I will announce the name of the person we have chosen to continue writing the history of the Alberta Ferretti brand, who will always find in me support and sustainment.” Alberta - who will stay as vice president of parent company Aeffe - vowed to keep busy with her "great passions", and rubbished the idea of a quiet life.
She said: "Someone will think that now I will dedicate myself to rest...
that someone doesn’t know me well enough.” Although what began as a "small family business" has become a global fashion juggernaut, Alberta said her brand has retained its ethos. She recalled: "[It began] when a young woman with many dreams and passions brought her collection to the catwalk for the first time.
I remember those moments as if they were yesterday. "The Alberta of that day is in many ways still the Alberta of today, even if in the meantime a small family business has become a company with 1,500 employees." In her letter, she took the chance to thank those who "helped her grow",.