MILAN — A strong personal connection, as well as a solid, trusting husband-and-wife relationship, lie behind the arrival of Luke and Lucie Meier at Jil Sander.
In an exclusive interview, the fashion house’s chief executive officer Alessandra Bettari confirmed the appointment of the Meiers as co-creative directors of the brand, succeeding Rodolfo Paglialunga, who exited in March. WWD was the first to report on Jan. 11 that the married couple was expected to be named Jil Sander’s new designers.
They already are making changes: The Meiers will work together on both the men’s and women’s collections and they are embracing the coed show format, starting with the pre-collection.
Luke Meier is the cofounder and designer of men’s label OAMC and he will continue to also design that brand. His wife worked in the design studios of Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton earlier in her career and then headed, along with Serge Ruffieux, the spring and fall ready-to-wear and couture studios, respectively, under Raf Simons at Dior before stepping into the spotlight between the exit of the couturier and the arrival of his successor, Maria Grazia Chiuri. This is the first time the married designers have worked together, however.
WWD sat down with the Meiers and Bettari
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