In a surprising turn of events, Pierpaolo Piccioli has announced his departure from Valentino, the luxury fashion house where he has worked for an impressive 25 years.
The renowned designer shared the news through a heartfelt message on his Instagram, where he expressed his gratitude towards Valentino Garavani, Giancarlo Giammetti, and his loyal team.
Piccioli wrote, “Not all stories have a beginning and an end, some live a kind of eternal present that shines with an intense light, so strong that it leaves no shadows. I have been in this company for 25 years, and for 25 years I have existed and lived together with the people who have woven with me the plots of this beautiful story that is mine and ours.”
He added: “Thanks to Mr. Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti who gave me their dreams.
Thank you to every single person who in one way or another made this possible, it has been a privilege and an honor to share my journey, and my dreams, with you.”
Piccioli’s journey with Valentino began in 1999 when he joined the brand alongside his former collaborator, Maria Grazia Chiuri. Prior to this, Piccioli had spent almost a decade designing accessories at Fendi.
“I was happy that I arrived there when I was all grown up,” Piccioli told Vogue about joining Valentino. “Until I was 30, I thought that fashion was a very nice place. At Valentino, I finally understood the system of fashion. Valentino was formal — very, very formal. There was a ritual, and I liked that.”
Upon joining Valentino, Piccioli and Chiuri quickly made a name for themselves with their exceptional work on bags and eyewear. Their talent and dedication eventually led them to take over the reins of Red Valentino in 2003. In 2009, the duo succeeded Alessandra Facchinetti as co-creative director of Valentino.
During their collaboration, Piccioli and Chiuri experienced both success and controversy. They created notable hits such as the iconic Rockstud range, which dominated the fashion scene in the early 2010s.
However, they also faced accusations of cultural appropriation, sparking important conversations about fashion’s relationship with cultural diversity and representation. In 2016, Chiuri decided to part ways with Valentino and took over as creative director at Dior.
Since assuming solo creative direction of the house, Piccioli has continued to excel, propelling Valentino to new heights. His couture creations have become a favorite on the red carpet, earning him widespread acclaim.
Furthermore, he played a significant role in the Barbiecore trend, which took the fashion world by storm with his Pink PP collection. His talent and innovative designs have not gone unnoticed, as he has been recognized as a Time 100 honoree, featured on the cover of Business of Fashion’s BoF 500 issue, and received a Fashion Award for Designer of the Year.
The departure of such a prolific designer from Valentino marks the end of an era and raises questions about what lies ahead for the fashion house. Until now, no successor has been named. “A new creative organization for the Maison will be announced soon,” says the brand.
