Global site navigation

Local editions

Ex-Gucci star Michele named Valentino creative director
Economy

Ex-Gucci star Michele named Valentino creative director

by  AFP 2 min read
Valentino's new designer Alessandro Michele oversaw a major period of growth at Gucci, revitalising the brand known for its green and red stripe
Valentino's new designer Alessandro Michele oversaw a major period of growth at Gucci, revitalising the brand known for its green and red stripe. Photo: Andreas SOLARO / AFP/File
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: The 2024 Business Leaders Awards Present Entrepreneurs that Change Nigeria for the Better. Check out their Stories!

Italian luxury fashion brand Valentino on Thursday named Alessandro Michele, the former high-flier at Gucci, as its new creative director.

Speculation had been rife over where the 51-year-old designer would land after departing in November 2022 from Gucci, where he oversaw a period of strong growth.

Last week, Valentino said its 25-year collaboration with creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli had ended, and on Monday it said it would cancel its upcoming Men's and Haute Couture fashion shows planned for June.

Valentino, which is controlled by Qatar investment fund Mayhoola For Investments, was founded in Rome in 1960 by designer Valentino Garavani and his business and life partner Giancarlo Giammetti.

Last year, French luxury group Kering paid 1.7 billion euros for a 30-percent stake, with an option to acquire all share capital.

Read also

Macron and Lula's 'bromance' sets social media fans alight

"Michele is an exceptional talent and his appointment underlines our great ambitions for Maison Valentino," Valentino Chairman Rachid Mohamed Rachid said in a statement.

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

Francois-Henri Pinault, the chair and chief executive of Kering, said he looked forward to Michele's "passion, imagination and dedication at play in this new chapter for Valentino".

At Gucci, Kering's flagship brand, Michele ushered in a wildly successful colourful and bohemian 1970s aesthetic to the brand with its world famous stripe logo in green and red.

A darling of Hollywood, he dressed pop and film stars such as Harry Styles and Jared Leto while attracting new fans to the fashion house with collaborations with major brands like Adidas, Disney and X Box.

Revenue nearly tripled under his watch, but sales flagged in his final few seasons. Gucci is still struggling, its sales having dropped six percent to 9.9 billion euros in 2023.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: