Sarah Burton, Who Designed Kate’s Royal Wedding Dress, to Step Down from Alexander McQueen 

Sarah Burton arrives for the British Fashion Awards 2011 at a central London venue, on Nov. 28, 2011. (AP)
Sarah Burton arrives for the British Fashion Awards 2011 at a central London venue, on Nov. 28, 2011. (AP)
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Sarah Burton, Who Designed Kate’s Royal Wedding Dress, to Step Down from Alexander McQueen 

Sarah Burton arrives for the British Fashion Awards 2011 at a central London venue, on Nov. 28, 2011. (AP)
Sarah Burton arrives for the British Fashion Awards 2011 at a central London venue, on Nov. 28, 2011. (AP)

The fashion designer who created the wedding dress of Kate, the Princess of Wales, is stepping down as creative director at Alexander McQueen after two decades at the brand, luxury group Kering said Monday.

Designer Sarah Burton had led the fashion house since 2010 and previously worked with the brand's founder, Lee Alexander McQueen, for 14 years.

Burton took over as creative director of the fashion house after McQueen took his own life at age 40.

Kering, the luxury group behind brands including Gucci and Saint Laurent as well as Alexander McQueen, said McQueen's spring and summer catwalk show in Paris this month will be the last with Burton at the helm.

Burton was behind the ivory lace wedding gown that the former Kate Middleton wore when she married Prince William in 2011. The elegant gown has since been widely copied and is often named as one of the most popular styles favored by brides all over the world.

Burton was awarded with an Order of the British Empire in 2012 for her services to the fashion industry.

Senior leaders at Kering praised Burton for leaving an “indelible mark” with her vision and creativity.

“She kept and continued Lee’s heritage, attention to detail and unique vision, while adding her own personal, highly creative touch,” said François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, in a statement.

The fashion house did not give details about who will replace Burton.



Hugo Boss Sells Russian Business to Wholesale Partner Stockmann

The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP
The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP
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Hugo Boss Sells Russian Business to Wholesale Partner Stockmann

The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP
The Hugo Boss logo is seen at one of the brand's stores in Hong Kong. CREDIT: BUDRUL CHUKRUT/AP

Hugo Boss has sold its Russian business to wholesale partner Stockmann for an undisclosed fee, the German fashion house said on Monday, joining the ranks of Western brands to exit the Russian market over the war in Ukraine.
The German fashion company suspended its retail business in Russia soon after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It also paused its e-commerce activities in the Russian market and stopped advertising, Reuters said.
"We can confirm that our Russian subsidiary has been sold to Stockmann JSC - a company belonging to one of Hugo Boss's long-standing wholesale partners in the country," Hugo Boss said.
Neither party has disclosed financial terms of the deal, but Russia demands that foreign companies sell assets at discounts of at least 50%. Stockmann did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Russian corporate filings showed that the deal closed on Aug. 2 and that Stockmann JSC now owns 100% of Hugo Boss Rus with a nominal value of 40 million roubles ($470,588).
Hugo Boss had come under pressure from organizations such as B4Ukraine for continuing to supply some goods to Russia. B4Ukraine is a coalition of civil society groups seeking to compel Western companies to sever ties with Russia.
"In terms of our wholesale business, we were fulfilling the contractual obligations to our partners," Hugo Boss said in April. "In this context, Hugo Boss is and has been complying with existing EU sanctions at all times."
Stockmann in Russia operates independently to its former Finnish owner, which sold its Russian business after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea.