Gucci confirms the exit of Alessandro Michele
The creative director in office since 2015 leaves the helm of the brand which, thanks to his talent, has become one of the pillars of luxury
Gucci announces that as of today Alessandro Michele is stepping down as Creative Director of Gucci . Alessandro Michele has been Creative Director of the Maison since 21 January 2015 and, thanks to his revolutionary creativity, attention to heritage and tradition, the brand has become a successful phenomenon in the luxury panorama. The rumors started this morning, but nothing has been confirmed until tonight. It seems that there have been misunderstandings about the future of the maison and discussions at the top, and that this has led to the closure, albeit amicable, between the designer and the Kering group.
Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, said: "I was lucky enough to meet Alessandro at the end of 2014. Since then we have had the pleasure of working side by side, as Gucci charted its path to success, over the course of these last eight years. I want to thank Alessandro for his 20-year commitment to Gucci and, for his vision, dedication and unconditional love for this unique Maison, over the years as Creative Director."
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering , said: "The road that Gucci and Alessandro have traveled together in recent years is unique and will remain an exceptional moment in the history of this Maison. I am grateful to Alessandro for bringing so much of himself on this adventure. His passion, imagination, ingenuity and culture have put Gucci at center stage, in the place it deserves. I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his creative journey."
Alessandro Michele declared : " There are moments in which the paths separate due to the different perspectives that each of us may have. Today an extraordinary journey ends for me, which lasted more than twenty years, within a company to which I have tirelessly dedicated all my love and my creative passion. In this long period, Gucci has been my home, my adopted family. To this extended family, to all the single people who have cared for and supported it, my deepest thanks go felt, my biggest and most moved embrace. Together with them I have desired, dreamed, imagined. Without them none of all that I have built would have been possible. To them therefore my most sincere wish: that you may continue to feed on your dreams, subtle and impalpable matter that makes a life worth living. May you continue to feed on poetic and inclusive imagery, remaining faithful to your values. May you always live live your passions, driven by the wind of freedom".
To date it is not known who will succeed him, at the moment the internal style team will continue to work on the next collections. Bets on the succession are not wasted, what is certain is that it will not be difficult to forget Alessandro's work and passion.
