Fashion Fuel

Fashion Fuel
Sophia Kokosalaki has joined Maison Martin Margiela and Dsquared2 in Renzo Rosso's Diesel style stable.

According to WWD, Rosso has taken a majority stake of the brand through Staff International, the manufacturing arm of his Only the Brave fashion group, which reported sales of �74 million last year.

"Her take on fashion is new, fresh and modern, and the way she designs a dress is just incredible," he said.

"I have never seen so much creativity in each single outfit.

I am in love with her designs."

Declining to reveal specific details of the acquisition, Rosso continued: "It was not a big financial investment, but it will be further down the road," and added that he had been "keeping an eye on Sophia for the past two years" and that he wanted her to become a "modern player in the world of contemporary fashion and a new luxury model".

Greek-born Kokosalaki, who will continue in her other role as creative director of the newly launched Vionnet couture house, says she is keen to use Rosso's "huge network" to expand her brand but adds that she went for it because it was "not too corporate".