Marc Jacobs To Leave Vuitton?

Marc Jacobs may be leaving Louis Vuitton, if this morning's reports are to be believed. Speculation has emerged suggesting that the designer - who has helmed the label since 1997 - may not have his contract renewed when it ends next month. French magazine Challenges said that his departure has already been internally approved. A spokesperson for Vuitton declined to comment on the rumours.

Reuters - who spoke to an anonymous source about Jacobs's alleged exit - tipped former Balenciaga creative director  Nicolas Ghesquiere to take the role. However, another source told the news agency that, "Nothing has been decided yet."

Marc Jacobs

"Marc Jacobs has done fantastic work at Vuitton, but I think that today we need to reframe the leather goods and fashion proposition which has until now mainly been focused on the bags," a luxury goods expert said.

Since joining the brand 16 years ago, Jacobs introduced the men's and women's ready-to-wear lines, and launched collaborations with a string of famous artists including Stephen Sprouse and Yayoi Kusama.