Alberta Ferretti steps down as creative director

Alberta Ferretti has resigned as creative director of her own brand.

The fashion designer, whose last show took place in Milan on September 17, founded her brand in 1981 and admitted it was a “difficult, complicated but very thoughtful” decision.

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 stressed that she made this decision “with calm and awareness” and that the brand will keep her name.

She added: “I will soon announce the name of the person we have chosen to continue writing the history of the Alberta Ferretti brand. This person will always find support and encouragement in me.”

Alberta, who will continue to serve as vice-president of parent company Aeffe, vowed to pursue her “great passions” and dismissed the idea of ​​a quiet life.

She said: “Someone will think that I will now devote myself to rest… that someone does not know me well enough.”

Alberta says that while the company that started out as a “small family business” has grown into a global fashion powerhouse, her brand has retained its ethos.

She recalled: “(It started) when a young woman with many dreams and passions presented her collection for the first time on the runway. I remember those moments like they happened yesterday.

“The Alberta of that time is in many ways still the Alberta of today, even if in the meantime the small family business has grown into a 1,500-employee operation.”

In her letter, she thanked those who “helped me grow,” mentioning among them Peter Lindbergh, Steve Meisel, Franca Sozzani and Paolo Roversi.

She continued: “How many things I have learned, how much energy I have invested in this work and how many achievements I have been fortunate to achieve.

“From Cattolica to China, from Hollywood to Japan… fantastic places in a journey that seemed unimaginable but became reality.

“On this special day, I would like to sincerely thank my brother Massimo, who is a constant presence in my professional and personal life, and all those who have contributed in recent years to making the Alberta Ferretti brand great in the world.”