>> Christian Lacroix has severed all ties with his namesake brand, instead focusing on designing theater costumes, hotels, and the like through his XLCX studio, but there's still plenty going on at the label.

Although ready-to-wear and couture were shuttered with the house's bankruptcy, Nicolas Topiol, Lacroix's CEO, is busy rolling out new licensing deals for the brand. Existing partners for menswear, silk, and bridal dresses stuck by the company, and soon there will be new product categories for Lacroix like women's eyewear and sunglasses, stationary, and home textiles.  Topiol said he's also in advanced discussions to reenter innerwear and children's wear with new licensing partners, and talks are under way for the production of various other women's and men's accessories.

The current "transition" team of 30 employees will be winnowed further to 12, but those left will include creative director Sacha Walckhoff, who worked on-and-off with Lacroix since 1992.  Topiol doesn't expect to enter into women's ready-to-wear again before 2012, so Lacroix boutiques will meanwhile go dark and the couture salon's furniture will be auctioned at the end of May.

“I think it’s better to start fresh. There’s a new life, a new chapter starting in this company,” Topiol told WWD. “The brand is strong, it’s known and we feel we can really build on that.”

The company has charged PR firm BPCM with keeping the Lacroix name in fashion magazines and on red carpets in the meantime.