Raf Simons steps down as creative director of Christian Dior

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The 47-year-old designer is leaving the design house after three-and-a-half years at the helm
He will continue with his own eponymous label, which he launched in 2005
He leaves behind a legacy of clothes that celebrities clamored to wear and shows that were the hottest ticket in town
This year, Donna Karan, Alexander Wang, and Ralph Lauren have also given up roles at major labels

Published: 17:06 EST, 22 October 2015 | Updated: 17:24 EST, 22 October 2015

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Raf Simons has announced that he is stepping down from his position as creative director at the iconic French label Christian Dior.

The 47-year-old designer has spent three and a half years with the brand, during which time he created 20 well-received collections of both ready-to-wear and couture designs.

'Christian Dior is an extraordinary company, and it has been an immense privilege to write a few pages of this magnificent book,' he wrote in a statement released today.

Au revoir! Raf Simons (pictured) has announced that he is stepping down as the creative director for the iconic label Christian Dior

Incredible talent: The 47-year-old had been with the brand since April 2012 and put together his first show in just eight weeks

A-list magnet: His designs are loved by celebrities, who regularly sat front row at his show and wore his creations on the red carpet

'[This] is a decision based entirely and equally on my desire to focus on other interests in my life, including my own brand, and the passions that drive me outside my work,' he explained.

Raf joined the 70-year-old design house in April of 2012, picking up after the departure of Bill Gaytten and showing his debut collection, Fall 2012 Couture, in July of that year.

From the beginning, celebrities and other designers jumped to show their support, with Marc Jacobs, Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci, Donatella Versace, Diane von Furstenberg, Azzedine Alaïa, and Lanvin's Alber Elbaz sitting in the audience at his first show.

Since then, the Belgian-born talent has produced 19 more collections, and was also the subject of a hit documentary, Dior and I, which was released this year and saw Raf preparing that first couture collection in 2012 in just eight weeks.

See ya! His Spring 2016 show, which was held at the Louvre in Paris on October 2, was his last for the label

Floral setting: In addition to his beautiful designs, Raf was known to put on an equally beautiful show, like this one at the Louvre earlier this month

Drop-dead gorgeous: His Fall/Winter 2015/2015 show, which was held in July in Paris, was heavily Instagrammed by celebrities and fashion editors

Happy boss: Raf said that the job involved a 'massive amount of work' but Dior offered a 'wonderful environment'

'It goes fast, for sure, with six collections a year,' he told The Business of Fashion earlier this year of his nonstop schedule, adding: 'It's a wonderful environment. It's a huge house. I'm not going to say it's not a lot of work, because it's a massive amount of work, but it's also an incredible atelier... They challenge me as much as I challenge them.'

Besides turning out coveted fashion season after season, Raf was also known for putting on an incredible show, transporting fashion editors and other front-row regulars into some seriously Instagrammable settings.

His Spring/Summer 2016 show on October 2, for instance, was held at the Louvre in Paris, which had been decked out from floor to ceiling with bluebells. For his Couture show this July, he directed the construction of a palace lined with bright, patterned glass which seemed like it was ripped straight out of a fairy tale.

Celebrities turned out in the double digits to see each of his collections come down the runway, with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lupita Nyong'o, Dakota Fanning, Olivia Palermo, Elizabeth Olsen, Lorde, and even Kanye West sitting front row.

Hollywood beauties: During his tenure, several celebrities - including Jennifer Lawrence (left) and Marion Cotillard (right) - posed for the brand

Boundary-breaking: Rihanna also appeared in several ad campaigns, making her the design house's first black spokesmodel

Fashion friends: Rihanna turned up to support Raf at his most recent Fashion Week show

Busy bee: Raf turned out 20 collections during his time with the label, and was even the star of a documentary, Dior and I

And those celebrities will surely miss Raf, as so many have sung his praises over the years.

Rihanna, Marion Cotillard, and Jennifer Lawrence have all shot campaigns for Dior while Raf has been at the helm and have been happy to support him during his tenure.

'I'm such a huge fan of Raf's amazing designs. I love the bags. So it's a huge honor,' Jennifer said in an interview last month while promoting her new campaign for the brand's Be Dior and Diorissimo bags.

It is unclear whether he has plans to move to another design house, though he did express an interest in focusing on his eponymous label, which he launched in 1995.

Before taking over at Dior, Raf served as the creative director for Jil Sander starting in 2005, and he has also collaborated with Adidas and the British brand Fred Perry.

Experience: Before designing clothes and accessories for Dior (pictured), he was the creative director at Jil Sander and also launched his own line

OTHER DESIGNERS WHO HAVE STEPPED DOWN THIS YEAR

Raf Simons is just the latest in a list of fashion heavy-hitters who have stepped down from major roles in the industry this year.

Donna Karan: Donna Karan and DKNY

At the end of June, Donna, 66, announced that she was giving up her role as chief designer for Donna Karan International, a company she founded in 1984. While she will no longer design for the Donna Karan or DKNY lines, she has stayed on as an adviser.

'I have arrived at a point in my life where I need to spend more time to pursue my Urban Zen commitment to its fullest potential and follow my vision of philanthropy and commerce,' she said in a statement, referring to her lifestyle brand.

DK-bye-bye: Donna Karan (left) left her role as chief designer for Donna Karan International, which includes designing for her Donna Karan line (right) and DKNY

Alexander Wang: Balenciaga

The 31-year-old designer's Spring 2016 show, presented in October, was his last for Balenciaga, where he had been creative director since November 2012. The former CFDA Fashion Fund Award winner still runs his own line, Alexander Wang.

'I am looking forward to taking my own brand to its next level of growth,' he announced at the time.

Gone: Alexander Wang (left), who still has his own label, left Balenciaga (right) after three years with the label

Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren

Last month, the 75-year-old shared that he was handing over the CEO position at the company he started in 1967. After nearly half a century on the job, though, he wasn't quite ready to give up all control over the business. He still remains at the corporation as an executive chairman and chief creative officer.

'When they start designing things I can’t understand, I’ll quit,' he told the New York Times. 'But I don’t feel like I’m stepping back now'

Classic: Ralph Lauren (left) is staying on at his company in other roles, but stepped down this year as CEO

Marissa Webb: Banana Republic

Only a year and a half after taking on the role, Marissa - who had previously been at J. Crew - left Banana Republic, where she had been creative director and executive vice president.

During her time there, Marissa - who is staying on as a creative adviser - took the 37-year-old brand to New York Fashion Week for the first time. She also has her own label named after her.

New role: Banana Republic (right) also lost Marissa Webb (left) as a creative director, though she is still a creative adviser; Marissa took the brand to Fashion Week for the first time