Valentino Welcomes Alessandro Michele as New Creative Director

In a move that concludes over a year of fervent speculation, Alessandro Michele has been announced as the new creative director of the iconic fashion house Valentino. The Roman designer, known for his transformative role at Gucci, is set to begin his tenure at Valentino’s prestigious studio in Palazzo Mignanelli, starting next Tuesday, April 2. His appointment is seen as a significant milestone, promising to infuse Valentino with his renowned creative vision.

Michele’s first collection for Valentino, the Spring Summer 2025, is scheduled to be unveiled this September at Paris Fashion Week. This debut is highly anticipated and is expected to be the highlight of the season, showcasing Michele’s unique take on Valentino’s legacy of elegance, refinement, and grace. “It’s an incredible honour,” Michele expressed, acknowledging both the joy and the immense responsibility that comes with leading a Maison de Couture as storied as Valentino.

Maison Valentino is honored to announce today the appointment of Alessandro Michele as Creative Director. This appointment marks the beginning of a new journey to continue shining unique values of the brand, its heritage and couture codes in the world through Alessandro Michele’s unique perspective and wealth of experience.
– says the statement.

The designer’s arrival at Valentino is particularly noteworthy as it marks his first foray into designing couture collections. Michele shared his exhilaration and the profound sense of gratitude and joy this new role brings him, highlighting his eagerness to engage with Valentino’s rich cultural and symbolic heritage. Valentino’s CEO, Jacopo Venturini, who has previously worked with Michele at Gucci, lauded Michele’s profound intelligence and creative vision, expressing excitement about their collaboration.

 

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Michele’s appointment follows the recent departure of Pierpaolo Piccioli, who had been at the helm of Valentino since 2008, garnering critical and commercial success. Michele, celebrated for significantly boosting Gucci’s revenues and redefining contemporary luxury, is expected to bring a similar transformative energy to Valentino. His vision aligns closely with Valentino’s core values, established by its founders, Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, promising a future where tradition and innovation coexist.

Rachid Mohamed Rachid, chairman of Valentino, and Kering’s chairman and CEO, François-Henri Pinault, both expressed their high expectations and confidence in Michele’s ability to elevate Valentino to new heights. Michele’s appointment is seen as a key strategic move that underscores the brand’s ambitious vision for the future, blending its rich heritage with Michele’s innovative and boundary-pushing aesthetics.

As the fashion world awaits Michele’s debut collection with bated breath, his return to Rome — the city of his birth and a constant source of inspiration for him — adds a poetic dimension to this new chapter in his career. Michele’s vision for Valentino, grounded in an ethos where beauty transcends conventional boundaries, promises to usher in a new era for the Maison, marked by endless beauty and the promise of new blooming.