Mere days after the fashion world started mourning the loss of the emblematic Raf Simons house, with its eponymously named founder shuttering the rap-favorite label after almost three decades, it’s now Gucci’s turn be moving onto a new chapter following the departure of the Italian label’s creative director, Alessandro Michele.
Sat at the helm of the Italian brand for the past seven years, last night, Kering, the French luxury conglomerate that owns the brand, announced that the Rome-born designer would be stepping down from the company after working himself up from head of accessories to one of the main faces of the Florentine maison.
“I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Alessandro at the end of 2014, since then, we have had the pleasure to work closely together as Gucci has charted its successful path over these last eight years,” commented Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, adding that he would like to “thank him for his 20 years of commitment to Gucci and for his vision, devotion and unconditional love for this unique house during his tenure as creative director.”
Throughout his seven year spell with Gucci, Michele can be credited with reinvigorating life back into the century-old brand. Since his appointment as the head of the creative arm of the label, it has been reported that the fashion enterprise’s revenues have almost tripled, rising from $4 billion in 2015 to $10.1 billion in 2021.
Aside from the financial impact Michele has had, it’s also true that during his tenure, Gucci developed a younger and more contemporary identity, straying away from its traditional aesthetic to appeal to a new demographic. With identity, orientation, and inclusivity at the center of most campaigns, looks, and runway concepts, a new generation was drawn to his works and vision, making Gucci one of the most followed and coveted labels, always leaving aficionados stunned by each one of their shows and sartorial offerings.
In a press release shared online yesterday, Michele did not detail the particular reason behind his vacating, although there is a mention of perspectives, most probably shared by those behind Gucci’s secretive curtains. “There are times when paths part ways because of the different perspectives each one of us may have,” wrote the 49-year-old
With that being said though, he did stress his affection towards the company that saw him grow. “Today an extraordinary journey ends for me, lasting more than 20 years, within a company to which I have tirelessly dedicated all my love and creative passion. During this long period, Gucci has been my home, my adopted family. To this extended family, to all the individuals who have looked after and supported it, I send my most sincere thanks, my biggest and most heartfelt embrace,” he said.
With fashion weeks picking up in a little over a month from now, we, as members of the audience, can only wonder what Gucci could have in store for us, what next chapter is there for Michele to write, and which next piece of news will shake the fashion world up as these industry-changing updates seem to be taking place on the daily.