Ex-Gucci Star Michele Named Valentino Creative Director
On Thursday, Italian luxury fashion brand Valentino announced the appointment of Alessandro Michele, formerly renowned for his work at Gucci, as its new creative director.
On Thursday, Italian luxury fashion brand Valentino announced Alessandro Michele, the former standout figure at Gucci, as its new creative director.
There had been much speculation regarding the next move for the 51-year-old designer after his departure from Gucci in November 2022, following a period of significant growth under his leadership.
Last week, Valentino disclosed the conclusion of its 25-year collaboration with creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. Additionally, on Monday, the brand announced the cancellation of its upcoming Men’s and Haute Couture fashion shows scheduled for June.
Valentino, founded in Rome in 1960 by designer Valentino Garavani and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti, is controlled by the Qatar investment fund Mayhoola For Investments.
In the previous year, the French luxury group Kering acquired a 30-percent stake in Valentino for 1.7 billion Euros, with an option to purchase all share capital.
Valentino Chairman Rachid Mohamed Rachid stated in a statement, “Michele is an exceptional talent, and his appointment underscores our significant aspirations for Maison Valentino.”
Francois-Henri Pinault, the chair and chief executive of Kering, expressed anticipation for Michele’s “passion, imagination, and dedication” as they embark on this new chapter for Valentino.
During his tenure at Gucci, Kering’s flagship brand, Michele introduced a highly successful, vibrant, and bohemian 1970s aesthetic to the brand, highlighted by its iconic stripe logo in green and red.
Renowned in Hollywood circles, Michele outfitted pop and film stars like Harry Styles and Jared Leto, while also broadening the fashion house’s appeal through collaborations with major brands such as Adidas, Disney, and Xbox.
Under his leadership, revenue nearly tripled, although sales saw a decline in his final seasons. Gucci continues to face challenges, with sales dropping six percent to 9.9 billion euros in 2023.
