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MILAN -- Gibo SpA is bringing its collection home.
As reported, the Italian high-end clothing manufacturer has tapped Japanese designer Ichiro Seta as the new creative director of its Gibo line. The move stems from Gibo wanting to bring control of the collection back to Milan from London, where it had been designed by artist Julie Verhoeven since its debut for spring 2003.
Seta's first collection will bow for spring-summer 2005 with a runway show held here during Milan Fashion Week at the end of the month. It previously had been shown during London Fashion Week.
In an interview at Gibo's new showroom here, Franco Pene, chairman of Gibo, said the relationship with Verhoeven was "very good" and that there is no "tension" between them. Reached by phone, Verhoeven declined to comment.
"This appointment is part of a strategic choice to bring distribution in-house and create a direct link with clients," said Pene, who spent 5 million euros, or $6.1 million, to purchase a 32,400-square-foot showroom in Milan to show and distribute Gibo and the other collections produced...