Harris Reed Exits Nina Ricci

Harris Reed is stepping down as creative director of Nina Ricci, the Puig-owned fashion and fragrance house said Wednesday.

The brand will “take the time required to define its next chapter” and provide an update on its new creative configuration “in due course.”

Reed — a Central Saint Martins graduate known for the fantastical, genderless demi-couture he creates for his namesake label — was recruited in September 2022 to breathe new life into Nina Ricci with an inclusive approach aimed at attracting younger shoppers.

A daring choice for a brand steeped in a traditional French take on femininity, he introduced larger sizes and created a new Venus fragrance. His last show for the brand, last week in Paris, featured tailored suits in a bright, yellow jacquard and a shimmery tiger motif.

Nina Ricci has lagged Puig stablemates like Rabanne — which has a top-selling fragrance and has a strong fashion following — and has cycled through a number of designers in recent years, including Peter Copping, Guillaume Henry and Dutch duo Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh.

“This experience will always remain a deeply personal milestone,” said Reed, who plans to focus on his own label.Puig, which also owns Jean Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera and Dries Van Noten, will hold a capital markets day on April 14.

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