Gucci Shakes Up Design Team Again

Italian fashion house Gucci has shaken up its design team again, just two seasons after star designer Tom Ford left, handing the brand-building womenswear pen to its accessories stylist Frida Giannini.

Gucci said on Tuesday its women's ready-to-wear director Alessandra Facchinetti, one of three designers who took over from Ford last year, was leaving "after a disagreement with management."

Ford and former chief executive Domenico De Sole, who built Gucci into the world's third-largest luxury group, left after their own disagreement with managers at Pinault Printemps Redoute when it bought out Gucci last year.

Facchinetti, Giannini and men's designer John Ray all worked under Ford in the style teams which piece together the ready-to-wear collections that show twice a year in Milan and set trends from the top of the fashion set to the shopping mall.

In a statement, Gucci said Giannini would continue to design accessories for both men and women, which make up a huge chunk of the company's sales and profits.

Giannini's designs have been hailed by management, fashion editors and, most importantly, customers buying everything from entry-price twill hats to five-figure croc-skin tote bags.

Her pieces have featured prominently in Gucci's new advertisements, a solitary GG logo shoe or shimmering leather purse replacing