Issa designer Daniella Helayel, who catapulted to international fame when Kate Middleton wore one of her trademark jersey dresses to the royal engagement announcement in 2010, has left the label she founded. According to WWD, her parting was not entirely amicable: She reportedly wasn’t getting along with majority shareholder Camilla Al Fayed (daughter of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed), who acquired 51 percent of the company two years ago with the intention of expanding the label worldwide. Helayel released the following statement:
The time has come for me to move on to focus on my art, travel and other interests. Creating Issa has been one of the most rewarding things in my life. I may be leaving, but the Issa girl will live forever in my heart.
The label has already announced Helayel’s replacement, Blue Farrier, who previously worked with Phoebe Philo at Chloé as well as brands like Stella McCartney, Sandro, and Anya Hindmarch, so there won’t be any disruption in the design process.
Will Helayel go on to start her own new brand? Her departure probably included a non-compete, à la Tamara Mellon post–Jimmy Choo, so it’ll probably be a while if she wants to do so. In the meantime, Issa will move forward with their 40-piece Banana Republic collaboration, which comes out on August 6.
