Hasta La Ideas

Well, it did seem improbable that fashion designer Hussein Chalayan‘s avant-garde looks—collapsible wooden skirts, laser-emitting dresses—could peacefully co-exist with sneakers and hoodies. So we weren’t surprised to learn that Chalayan has bought his brand back from Puma parent company Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR). The French conglomerate acquired a majority stake in the designer’s London-based fashion business in March 2008 as part of a deal that appointed Chalayan creative director of Puma, the “Sportlifestyle brand” in which PPR acquired a controlling stake in 2007 for just over $7 billion. Under PPR, Puma had encompassed the Puma, Tretorn, and Hussein Chalayan brands. And while Chalyan will now operate his own brand independently, he’s staying on as creative director of Puma. According to a statement issued by the company, the next line developed by Chalayan for Puma will be the “urban mobility collection,” which is expected to hit stores in late spring.

Previously on UnBeige: