Rucci Leave Fashion House!

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T he fashion world is reeling today from news that Ralph Rucci, an American fashion designer who has been in the business for 30 years, is leaving his position at his namesake label. The reason for his departure were not stated in press reports from Women's Wear Daily or Fashionista.com.

His replacement, who has not been named yet, will take over beginning with the 2016 resort collection.An in-house team will be handling the pre-fall and Fall 2015 collections, which are next up on the fashion calendar.

"We recognize the contribution, vision and talent of Mr.   Rucci and wish him well," company chief executive officer Joey Laurenti , who joined the New York City-based label in Mayl



Born in Philadelphia, Rucci has been designing since 1981, has won multiple awards, and launched his high-end line Chado Ralph Rucci  in 1994. He changed the name to  Ralph Rucci in 2013 and is known for his luxury designs and exquisite attention to detail.

 Rucci stands out as a rare American "couturier," the first American designer in more than 60 years to be invited to show in Paris by the French Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture back in 2002. He continued showing there for five seasons.

He has also received critical acclaim as an artist, known for his work in acrylics, screen painting, watercolor and collage.

At his last show, the Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection released during New York Fashion Week,  Rucci wrote his show notes as an open letter to his audience, a direct appeal that journalists found unusual at the time: "My dream is that the viewers will be hypnotized by the newness."