Marc Jacobs discontinuing Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs broke hearts all throughout the fashion industry when he announced that he was leaving Louis Vuitton in 2013, but, we managed to recover thanks to the lovely and talented Nicholas Ghesquière. However, it might take us a while to recover from the bomb that was dropped on us last night. Marc by Marc Jacobs will be discontinued, much to the chagrin of department store lovers and those who lusted after those designer quality items with far more accessible prices.

For three seasons the Marc by Marc Jacobs line was headed up by Luella Bartley and Katie Hiller. Hiller was the line’s Creative Director while Bartley was the design director. The two were tapped in hopes of bringing new life to what seemed like a stuck in 70’s era neutral phase for Marc by Marc Jacobs. The duo’s collections were getting positive reviews, and Marc by Marc Jacobs does make up of 70 percent of Marc Jacobs International’s sales, so, it is unclear why the line is being discontinued. The PR department for Marc Jacobs International has yet to comment.

Marc by Marc Jacobs to be absorbed into main Marc Jacobs line

Marc by Marc Jacobs won’t be disappearing completely though. Bridget Foley, the iconic editor at Women’s Wear Daily who broke the news, has reported that Marc by Marc Jacobs will be merged into the fashion conglomerate’s main line with a wide range of prices. Why would you end the line that generates 70 percent of your business though?

For those who have been knocking that question around their brain since last night, look no further than the brand’s potential IPO. Big changes have taken place at Marc Jacobs International since rumors of them going public have been swirling around the worlds of both fashion and finance. First, Marc Jacobs stepped down from his role at Louis Vuitton to focus on Marc Jacobs, and then they poached Sebastian Suhl, former CEO of Givenchy, to be their chief executive. It’s no secret that the company has big plans for the Marc Jacobs IPO either.

Bernard Arnault of LVMH, the parent company that owns Marc Jacobs, has made it clear he wants their IPO to be more successful than the Michael Kors IPO. The current dilemma they will face is that Marc by Marc Jacobs is carried by a large number of department stores, including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus, while Marc Jacobs is not. Whether or not wholesale buyers can adjust to trying to carry Marc Jacobs and deal with the wide range of price points could make a huge difference in the business. It’s currently a game of wait and see, but, with Marc Jacobs being one of the biggest names in American fashion we’re sure they’ll be able to handle it; however, Marc by Marc Jacobs will certainly be missed.