Marc Jacobs leaves Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs, creative director of Louis Vuitton since 1997, has confirmed that he is leaving the French fashion house to focus on his eponymous labels. Following months of speculation, Marc Jacobs has confirmed that he is to leave Louis Vuitton after 16 years at the helm. The designer, his business partner Robert Duffy and LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault confirmed the news to WWD this morning, just before Jacobs presented a spectacular final collection for the storied fashion house (which you can watch, above). WATCH: Marc Jacobs's final show for Louis Vuitton The 50-year-old designer will now focus on his eponymous brands, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs. It is hoped that the Marc Jacobs brand will make its initial public offering in the next three years. SEE: Marc Jacobs's Louis Vuitton highlights This morning, Jacobs gave a sombre swansong , presenting a collection comprising of mainly black pieces and a vast set that included aspects of his most memorable Louis Vuitton shows of previous seasons. A pair of escalators, old fashioned lifts, a hotel hallway, a grand fountain, clock and carousel - all painted black - formed the landscape for his final goodbye. The setting for Jacobs's final Louis Vuitton show. Photo: Reuters He was appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton in 1997, and went on to introduce the first-ever ready-to-wear line for the brand, as well as sell-out collaborations with famed artists such as Stephen Sprouse and Yayoi Kusama. Marc Jacobs taking his bow at his final Louis Vuitton show this morning Marc Jacobs: a lifetime in fashion in pictures He founded his eponymous brand in 1993, of which he, Duffy and LVMH each now own one third. READ: Marc Jacobs on his departure from Louis Vuitton His successor at Vuitton is yet to be announced, though rumours are rife that it will be former Balenciaga creative director Nicholas Ghesquiere.