“Over the Christmas holiday, Mr. Rucci, his first assistant, and one of his vital patternmakers lost their mothers to illness. This tragic situation has taken a heavy toll on Mr. Rucci and his staff. For this reason, he has decided not to travel to Paris this month to show his Spring/Summer 2005 Haute Couture Collection,” the statement said.

The New York-based designer will still produce his spring haute couture collection.

A selection of ensembles from that collection will be shown in New York during Olympus Fashion Week scheduled on February 11, 2005 when he shows his ready-to-wear collection under the label Chado Ralph Rucci.

The showing will be multi-media, incorporating pieces of Mr. Rucci’s recent artwork. The complete Spring Haute Couture collection will be shown privately in his New York office.

The Ralph Rucci Chado Fall/Winter 2005/06 Haute Couture collection will be shown in Paris in July, as it has for the past three years.