Industry News

With Alessandro Michele as Gucci’s new creative director, the brand seems directed at a younger and more sartorially adventurous consumer. At least this is our impression after watching the men’s show in Paris earlier this week. Although Michele reworked Frida Giannini’s whole Fall 2015 men’s collection, in only 6 days(!), garnering favorable reviews for his provocative androgyny, the upcoming Fall 2015 women’s collection will be his first official collection. So where did Michele come from? Although he is virtually unknown outside of the Gucci circle, he is no doubt highly respected. “Alessandro is not a big name, he is under the radar. He is known in the company as being the most talented person and is very much respected by the team. He knows Gucci inside and out,” said Gucci’s chief executive Marco Bizarri in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily. Michele joined the Gucci design studio in 2002 following a sting as senior accessories designer at Fendi. He was later appointed “associate” to Frida Giannini in 2011, and last year he took an additional responsibility of CD of GRG Richard Ginori, the porcelain brand acquired by Gucci in 2013. Until now, Michele, 42 years-old, was the head of the brand’s accessories line. That is, of course, until he stepped into a much bigger role. If the bow he took, together with the rest of the team, after the Fall 2015 menswear show is any indication, Michele marks a democratic shift for Gucci. It seems clear that what Gucci wants, is to inject the brand with new ideas and create a fresh buzz around it. One thing is for sure, we, along with many others, will be watching Michele’s February 25 womenswear debut closely.

More news from the past week:

Alexander Wang debuts a furniture collection for Poltranu Frau

Anthony Vaccarello named Versus creative director

Chanelplans shows in NYC, Seoul and Rome in 2015

Vince Camuto dies at 78

The post Industry News appeared first on Elin Kling.