Italian designer Fabio Zambernardi could be stepping back from his role as design director at Prada Group at the end of 2023, according to multiple sources.
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The right-hand man of Prada Group creative director Miuccia Prada since the 1990s, Zambernardi’s last collections will be the Spring/Summer shows for the group’s Prada and Miu Miu brands, according to a Business of Fashion report.
The group has fought to retain the key executive in recent months and wants to keep the door open for his return, potentially framing his departure as a year-long sabbatical, two of the sources told the publication.
Joining Prada in the 1980s, Zambernardi went on to lead the company’s shoe division in 1997, before being named design fashion coordinator in 1999.
In 2002, he was appointed design director for both Prada and Miu Miu in 2002, ranging from ready-to-wear to footwear and accessories.
The Prada Group did not comment on the news.
For the first six months of 2023, the Prada Group enjoyed double-digit revenue growth globally, lead by Asia Pacific sales.
In its most recent trading update, Prada Group revealed revenues of EUR 2.2 billion for the first half, up 20 percent, lead by Asia Pacific, Prada’s largest market, which saw revenues surge 36 percent to EUR 716 million.
Moreover, the Prada brand has extended its beauty reach globally in the second half of 2023, announcing the launch of its debut makeup and skincare collections, respectively, in August.
In the second quarter of 2023, Prada was also named the second most popular brand by Lyst, thanks to its participation at Salone del Mobile in 2023 and the Prada Galleria campaign starring Scarlett Johansson.
Coming in second to Spanish brand Loewe, the fashion tech platform Lyst ranks fashion’s most talked-about brands for each quarter.