PARIS, Jan 22, 2003/ — Following the recent and sudden departure of CEO and founder Mounir Moufarrige from France Luxury Group, the miniature luxury group has announced the departure of Scherrer ready-to-wear designer Ritu Beri.
The Indian-born Beri, 31, has designed two pret-a-porter collections for the French house, to generally unenthusiastic critical reviews. According to a spokesperson for France Luxury Group, Beri left as recently as last Friday “to concentrate on her own label.”
France Luxury Group was founded at the start of 2002 by fashion veteran Moufarrige and businessman Francois Barthes who bought up a selection of ailing brands such as Scherrer, Jacques Fath and Emmanuelle Khanh. In November the two founders sold a majority stake in the group to entrepreneur Alain Dumenil who owns the Francesco Smalto men’s wear label.
Moufarrige told reporters last week that his departure from France Luxury Group was amicable, describing Barthes as a “great friend” and Dumenil as “a likeable guy with an affinity for luxury.” Moufarrige, as reported, is currently focusing on turning around the fashion image of the house of Worth.
Scherrer will present its Haute Couture collection, designed by Stephane Rolland, at 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon.
