Diane von Furstenberg Names Jonathan Saunders Chief Creative Officer

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May 16, 2016, 08:30 ET

NEW YORK, May 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Diane von Furstenberg Studio, LLC, announced today it has named London designer Jonathan Saunders Chief Creative Officer, effective immediately. In this newly created position, Saunders will be responsible for the overall creative direction of the brand and he will report to CEO Paolo Riva.

"Jonathan's extraordinary passion for colors and prints, his effortless designs, and his desire to make women feel beautiful make him the perfect creative force to lead DVF into the future," said Diane von Furstenberg, Founder and Chairwoman of Diane von Furstenberg Studio, LLC. "I could not have found a cooler, more intelligent designer and I cannot wait to watch him shine as our chief creative officer."

In 2003, Saunders launched his eponymous womenswear label, and has come to be regarded as one of London's design luminaries. He has established his name as synonymous with innovation in print, pattern and craftsmanship.

"The spirit with which this brand was founded is incredibly relevant today. I am thrilled to be part of its next chapter," said Saunders. "Diane has a unique ability to deeply connect with women and I am excited to be working with Paolo on the future of the brand."

"Jonathan is an incredibly talented designer who is able to express his creative vision with great clarity. He will evolve the identity of DVF and passionately embrace our mission of putting women at the center of everything we do. I look forward to this partnership with him," said Riva.

About DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
The Diane von Furstenberg brand is a woman's best friend. It is the brand she turns to for confidence and glamour, to be the woman she wants to be. Founded in 1972 by the designer, DVF revolutionized fashion with the creation of the wrap dress, which came to symbolize power and independence for an entire generation of women. DVF is now a global luxury lifestyle brand and one of the premier names in American fashion. Renowned for its iconic wrap dress and signature prints, DVF has expanded to a full collection of ready-to-wear and accessories including shoes, handbags, small leather goods, scarves, and jewelry. Founder and Chairman Diane von Furstenberg is also Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and serves on the boards of Vital Voices, the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation and The Shed, the new center for artistic and cultural innovation in New York City. In 2014, Diane published a memoir, The Woman I Wanted to Be, which has been translated into five languages and in 2015 she was named one of the TIME 100 Most Influential People. Headquartered in New York City, DVF has a global distribution network in over 55 countries and 1500 points of sale including 148 DVF owned and partnered stores throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.