Gucci and Kering announced the appointment of Alessandro Michele as Gucci’s new Creative Director with total creative responsibility for all of Gucci’s collections and its brand image. Alessandro’s first collection in his new role will be for Women’s ready-to-wear for Autumn/Winter 2015-16 to be presented on 25 February, in Milan.
Born in Rome in 1972, Alessandro studied at the prestigious Academy of Costume & Fashion in Rome. He forged his early design career inside Fendi where he was Senior Accessories Designer. A rising talent, he was tapped by Tom Ford in 2002 and moved to Gucci’s London-based Design Office.
Over his 12-year tenure inside the Gucci design studio, Alessandro held a variety of roles. In 2006 he was named Leather Goods Design Director and promoted in May 2011 as Associate to then Creative Director Frida Giannini. Passionate about interiors and décor, Alessandro in September 2014 took on the additional role of Creative Director of Richard Ginori—the fine Florentine porcelain brand acquired by Gucci in June 2013. He immediately reimagined the product offering and branding of the 280-year-old brand, repositioning it for the luxury market with new collections and a new store design template.
Alessandro Michele, 42, studied at Accademia di Costume e di Moda in Rome and joined Fendi as Senior Accessories Designer. He moved to Gucci’s Design Office in 2002, assuming growing responsibilities within the Creative Department until he was promoted to the role of Associate to the Creative Director Frida Giannini in May 2011. In September 2014, he took on the additional responsibility as Creative Director of Richard Ginori, the renowned Italian fine porcelain brand that Gucci acquired in June 2013.
Commenting on the appointment, Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, said: “After a considered and thorough selection process, Alessandro Michele has been chosen to assume the role as Gucci Creative Director, based upon the contemporary vision he has articulated for the brand that he will now bring to life. Alessandro and I are fully aligned on this new contemporary vision needed by the brand and we will be continuously inspired by that new identity in our respective roles and duties.”
“Alessandro’s talent and his knowledge of the company and the design teams in place will for sure allow him to move quickly and seamlessly in implementing his new creative direction for the collections and the brand.” continued Marco Bizzarri. “The Gucci Men’s Autumn/Winter 2015-16 collection presented on 19 January, which was realized thanks to a remarkable collaboration between the men’s design and production teams, is a clear indication that the brand is ready to take a new direction.”
