The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
LOS ANGELES, United States — Guess' Paul Marciano resigned as chairman of the company he co-founded after a probe of sexual-harassment allegations by women including model Kate Upton.
Marciano and Guess reached non-confidential settlement agreements with five individuals totalling $500,000 to avoid “the cost of litigation and without admitting liability or fault,” according to a company filing Tuesday. Marciano will remain on the company’s board.
The allegations included claims of “inappropriate comments and texts, and unwanted advances including kissing and groping,” the company said in a filing. It said investigators interviewed more than 40 people and reviewed approximately 1.5 million pages of documents.
Investigators concluded that though not all allegations could be corroborated, Marciano put himself in situations where such allegations might occur.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The investigation found that on certain occasions Mr. Marciano exercised poor judgement in his communications with models and photographers and in placing himself in situations in which plausible allegations of improper conduct could, and did, arise,” the company said.
By Lisa Wolfson and Kim Bhasin; editor: Anne Riley Moffat.
Related Articles:
[ How Guess Mismanaged Its #MeToo CrisisOpens in new window ]
From analysis of the global fashion and beauty industries to career and personal advice, BoF’s founder and CEO, Imran Amed, will be answering your questions on Sunday, February 18, 2024 during London Fashion Week.
The State of Fashion 2024 breaks down the 10 themes that will define the industry in the year ahead.
Imran Amed reviews the most important fashion stories of the year and shares his predictions on what this means for the industry in 2024.
After three days of inspiring talks, guests closed out BoF’s gathering for big thinkers with a black tie gala followed by an intimate performance from Rita Ora — guest starring Billy Porter.