Peter Copping to leave Oscar de la Renta, return to Europe

NEW YORK (AP) — Oscar de la Renta says its creative director Peter Copping is leaving after two years in the job.

The company said Thursday that Copping was leaving for personal reasons, to return to Europe.

Copping joined the luxury label as artistic director in October of 2014, having previously served in the same post at Nina Ricci. He was hoping to work alongside Oscar de la Renta himself. But it was not to be: Just days after Copping was hired, the legendary designer died of cancer.

Copping presented his debut New York Fashion Week collection in February of 2015.

This past February, several collections later, he spoke of a delicate balance between keeping the Oscar de la Renta legacy alive and also bringing new ideas to the label.