Mizrahi goes from Target to Claiborne

Apparel and accessories maker Liz Claiborne Inc. has hired Isaac Mizrahi as its creative director for its namesake brand in a bid to rejuvenate its foundering and aging label.

By signing on with Liz Claiborne, the award-winning designer is also ending his contract with Target Corp. He had created the powerful Isaac Mizrahi for Target collection, which has been a magnet in driving customer traffic to its stores and helped solidify Target’s niche in cheap chic designs since its inception five years ago.

Mizrahi’s first women’s collection for Claiborne, to arrive in stores for spring 2009, will appeal to the same customer but will be updated with bold colors and have a better fit, attributes for which the label had once been known, Claiborne officials said.

Meanwhile, Swedish fashion chain H&M; said that Ann-Sofie Johansson will take over as design chief from Margareta van den Bosch, 65, who will move into semi-retirement this spring.