Audibet, reached at his home in Paris, explained that he had fulfilled his contract with the company. He went on to say that, “in the future I will be looking for a company that will be supportive of my creative efforts.”

Nicole Fischelis, Ferragamo's fashion director who chose Audibet for his clear, straight froward modern style, could not be reached for comment.

Audibet, the fashion pioneer of stretch fabrics in the ‘80s and the designer for Prada during its expansion in the ‘90s, joined Ferragamo as women's design studio head in 2000.