French fashion house Chanel announced the departure of its artistic director, Virginie Viard, on Thursday, despite hitting record sales under her leadership. Viard, 62, replaced legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld at the storied label following his death in 2019, having worked alongside him for 20 years.

“Chanel confirms the departure of Virginie Viard after a rich five-year collaboration as artistic director of fashion collections,” the group said in a statement, adding that a successor would be announced in due course.

Chanel thanked Viard for her “remarkable contribution”, and while critics felt she played it a little safe, sales soared under her leadership, hitting a record of nearly $20 billion in 2023 - an increase of 14.6 percent on the previous year.

Her last womenswear collection in March was an homage to the French seaside town of Deauville where Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel opened her first boutique in 1912.

Viard herself kept a very low profile, dressing simply and giving very sober statements to the press - a world away from the flamboyant Lagerfeld and his often provocative pronouncements. — AFP