Alessandro Michele, the former creative director of Gucci, has been announced as the new creative director of Valentino. This comes after Pierpaolo Piccioli stepped down from the position.
Michele, who spent two decades with Gucci, expressed his honor and excitement at his new role. “It’s an incredible honor,” he said in a statement while gearing up to begin his tenure on April 2 at Valentino’s headquarters in Rome.
Michele’s appointment has generated much anticipation among fashion enthusiasts. His debut collection for Valentino, set to be unveiled in September during Paris Fashion Week, is already being hailed as the most anticipated show of the event. While specifics about the collection remain unknown, Michele has given some hints about his creative direction.
In a statement, Michele emphasized his admiration for Valentino’s cultural and symbolic heritage. He mentioned the sense of wonder that the brand consistently evokes and the precious identity it has been endowed with by its founders, Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti. These references have always been a significant source of inspiration for Michele and he plans to pay tribute to them in his own interpretation and creative vision.
Getty / Dia Dipasupil “My first thought goes to the richness of [Valentino’s] cultural and symbolic heritage, to the sense of wonder it constantly generates, to the very precious identity given with their wildest love by founding fathers, Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti. These references always represented an essential source of inspiration for me, and I’m going to praise such influence through my own interpretation and creative vision.”
Michele’s appointment as creative director of Valentino marks a new chapter in his illustrious career. Having worked at Gucci for two decades, he transformed the brand with his eclectic and eccentric designs, making it one of the most influential and sought-after luxury labels in the industry.
His departure from Gucci in 2022 created much speculation about his next move, and now it seems that Valentino is the perfect platform for him to showcase his creative prowess.
Photo: Theo Wargo
