Isabel Marant taps Dutch designer Kim Bekker as new artistic director

French label Isabel Marant has announced the appointment of Dutch designer Kim Bekker to the role of artistic director of its women’s and men’s collections.

Bekker has carved out a long career at the Parisian label. She was creative director of the business from 2008 to 2018, then took on the role of consultant creative director from March 2019 to March 2021, at which time she was appointed to her new position of artistic director, according to LinkedIn.

She also spent one and a half years at Saint Laurent as design director of pre-collection and finished products.

Marant’s appointment marks the first time someone other than the brand’s eponymous founder has held the position of artistic director since the label was established in 1994. But that doesn’t mean Marant is leaving the company.

“The Dutch designer will work alongside Isabel Marant, overseeing the women's and men's ready-to-wear lines as well as the accessories collections in order to support the house in its growth and development projects,” the company said in a statement.

CEO Anouck Duranteau-Loeper told WWD there was “no question” of Marant leaving the brand, and said the business is “working to make sure she has the right teams in place in order to be able to remain at her house for a very long time”.