Maria Grazia Chiuri has left Valentino.
Maria Grazia Chiruri and Pierpaolo Piccioli
The former creative director of the Italian fashion house has quit her role after 25 years at the helm of the designer label, which saw her co-design alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli, because she wants to continue her "artistic path" on her own.
Speaking to Vogue.co.uk about her departure, the creative mastermind said: "After 25 years of creative partnership and of professional satisfactions we gave ourselves the opportunity of continuing our artistic paths in an individual way with the reciprocal desire of further great achievements."
However, Maria has revealed she will miss working with the brand - which was founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani - and alongside the creative team, although she has enjoyed the experience of making a number of "successful creative achievements".
She explained: "I thank Mr Valentino Garavani and Mr Giammetti for their support in these years and for everything that I have learned from them. I also thank Mr Sassi and all the people that work within the Valentino Maison for their support in these years. I have shared with Pierpaolo a great part of my professional life and it has been an experience made of many successful creative achievements together. I am ready to embark on a new professional challenge."
And Valentino has credited the brand's success to the partnership between Maria and Pierpaolo, which he hopes will continue under Pierpaolo's sole leadership as the company's creative director.
He said: "Everything achieved in these years would have been impossible without Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli's talent, determination and vision that together have contributed into making Valentino one of the most successful fashion companies.
"A new and exciting phase for the brand begins under the creative leadership of Pierpaolo Piccioli. The brand is strongly determined to continue its affirmation and development process accomplished in the past years".
Meanwhile, Valentino exhibited its last collection Maria collaborated on during the Autumn/Winter 2016 Haute Couture collection in Paris, France, on Wednesday (06.07.16).
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