Diane von Fürstenberg Lays Off 75 Percent of Staff
Diane von Fürstenberg’s fashion empire is facing major setbacks amid the pandemic.
According to the Business of Fashion, the label has laid off 75 percent of its 400-person staff and is set to close 18 of its 19 retail stores.
The company will now focus on a “digital-only, China-focused” business model.
The store in New York City’s Meatpacking District is the only location that will remain open, according to the report. International branches in England and France will be closing, according to BoF.
Of course, the designer shot to superstardom when she launched the brand in 1972, thanks to her invention of the sought-after wrap dress design.
In 1983, she sold her dress design license to Puritan Fashions Corporation, which ended her control over her namesake line, until she reacquired the license in 1997, spurring another wave of brand success, according to BoF.
We wish them all well.