Valentino Successor Alessandra Facchinetti Fired After The Fashion House's Show At The Paris Fashion Week

October 6, 2008 11:02 a.m. EST

Paris, France (CNS) - Fashion house Valentino's creative director Alessandra Facchinetti has been fired after her Paris show this weekend.

Although the 36-year-old Facchinetti released a warmly received debut collection in March and her second ready-to-wear collection on Friday, the fashion house has ended her reign abruptly.

According to a statement from Valentino fashion group, she would be replaced by their accessory designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli. Facchinetti is said to have learned of her dismissal from the media.

A source told The Daily last week that "absolutely nothing was selling."

Fashion legend Valentino Garavani - who announced his retirement last year, thus appointing Facchinetti as his successor - has weighed in on the designer's sudden dismissal and praised the newly appointed replacements.

He says, "They [Chiuri and Piccioli] are two serious capable professionals that I had alongside me for many years. They always demonstrated an enormous respect and love for my work."

"There is an existing archive with thousands of dresses where they can draw and take inspiration from to create a Valentino product that is relevant today."

"It is a shame that their predecessor didn't feel this need."

This is not the first time Facchinetti has found herself being sacked from a fashion house. She was also fired as a designer from the House of Gucci after just two seasons and was also replaced by the house's accessory designer.