Bally on the Hunt for New Creative Lead

Bally is on the hunt for new designers following the resignation of creative directors Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz. According to industry sources, Fidler and Herz, who have been with the brand since 2010, handed in their resignations a few months ago and will leave at the end of September. The spring 2014 women’s collection will be their last for Bally. Fidler and Herz, who also worked as a team at Aquascutum, could be headed to Mulberry, according to a source in London. Neither could be reached for comment.

Last year, Bally quietly named Manuel Frei, a former editor of German GQ, as its creative chief, and he is understood to be spearheading the search for one or more designers.

Bally has conducted talks with Alexandre Mattiussi, who showed his men’s wear collection Ami in Paris last week, according to sources. John Vizzone, most recently senior vice president of Ralph Lauren’s Purple and Black Label collections, has also been discussed as a candidate.

Bally officials could not be reached for comment.

Mattiussi is certainly on a roll. Last Thursday, he was named the winner of the 24th Andam Fashion Award. A purchase order from Canadian department store Hudson’s Bay and two seasons of mentoring by Italian fashion honcho Renzo Rosso, plus a cash prize of 250,000 euros, or $322,005 at current exchange, make up the prize.