Raf Simons Is Leaving Dior

After a a fruitful three-and-a-half year collaboration, Raf Simons and Dior are parting ways, and that Simons “reached this decision for personal reasons,” reports WWD. The spring-summer 2016 collection he presented under a flower-festooned hillock in a courtyard of the Louvre on Oct. 2 was his last.

“It is after careful and long consideration that I have decided to leave my position as creative director of Christian Dior’s women’s collection. It is a decision based entirely and equally on my desire to focus on other interests in my life, including my own brand, and the passions that drive me outside my work. Christian Dior is an extraordinary company, and it has been an immense privilege to write a few pages of this magnificent book.” Simons said in a statement.

Simons’ successor at Dior has yet to be identified and a search is to be conducted, according to informed industry sources.