>> The Jil Sander Group has confirmed that designer Jil Sander will return to her eponymous label. "I am very happy and excited to be back. It feels like coming home after a brief journey," the designer — who founded the company in 1968 — said in a statement. "The fashion world needs original voices and genuine signatures. I will do my best to, once again, join the choir."
 Sander's first collection will be the men's Spring 2012 collection shown in June.

The confirmation comes just one day after the company announced that the current creative director, Raf Simons, would leave his post following the presentation of the women's Fall 2012 collection this weekend in Milan.

This is not the first time Sander has returned to the company. After exiting in 2000, she returned to the creative helm in 2003, only to leave again a short time later. [WWD]
Photo: courtesy of Jil Sander