The Neapolitan designer arrives at the creative direction of Gucci after the era of Alessandro Michele, after much speculation here is the appointment
Homo novus
We will have to wait for September 2023 to see the first collection but the nomination has arrived. We’re talking about news that had been eagerly awaited in the world of high fashion since at the end of November 2022 Alessandro Michele suddenly interrupted, after 7 years, his role as creative director for the famous and iconic Gucci brand which began in 2015. Once again Gucci has decided to bet on a professional designer but not yet known to the general public (Alessandro Michele was in fact at his debut as creative director when he was chosen, he had already worked in the brand’s creative team for fifteen years). There were rumors about the possibility of nominating Maria Grazia Chiuri at Dior or Jonathan Anderson at Loewe or an internal brand promotion. Instead, a “new” face was chosen also due to the brand’s need to find a successor who is able, as Michele was, to surprise the contemporary way of dressing with an innovative vision. So here’s the news we’ve all been waiting for: Sabato De Sarno will replace Alessandro Michele at the helm of the Gucci maison. De Sarno will have the task of defining and expressing the creative vision of the brand in the women’s and men’s collections, in leather goods, accessories and in the lifestyle category, however, being still engaged as fashion director by Valentino, he has yet to conclude his commitments and the first collection signed by him for Gucci will therefore be the women’s line for the spring/summer 2024 season, which will be held next September in Milan. The announcement was made by Marco Bizzarri, president and CEO of Gucci, and François-Henri Pinault, president and CEO of Kering, of which Gucci is a part, in a joint statement: “I am delighted that Sabato will join Gucci as new creative director of the Maison, one of the most influential roles in the luxury sector. Having worked with some of the most renowned Italian luxury fashion houses, he brings with him extensive and relevant experience. I am confident that through Sabato’s deep understanding and appreciation of Gucci’s unique heritage, he will lead our creative teams with a distinctive vision that will help write this exciting next chapter, reinforcing the House’s fashion authority and capitalizing on the its rich heritage at the same time” said Bizzarri. “One hundred and two years after Guccio Gucci opened his first store in Florence, Gucci remains one of the most iconic, important and influential luxury houses in the world. With Sabato De Sarno at the creative helm, we are confident that the Maison will continue to both influence fashion and culture through highly desirable products and collections, as well as bring a singular, contemporary perspective to modern luxury,” Pinault reiterated. But let’s find out who Sabato de Sarno is. Here is his identikit: 39 years old, originally from Naples, Sabato began his career in the world of high fashion in 2005 at Prada and then moved on to Dolce and Gabbana, until arriving in 2009 among the ranks of Valentino. Here at the famous Italian brand in recent years he has held positions of increasingly increasing responsibility until he became the studio director of the prêt-à-porter lines of Valentino and the right-hand man of Pierpaolo Piccioli, one of the most acclaimed stylists of the moment. Sabato De Sarno welcomed his appointment as creative director of Gucci as follows: “I am deeply honored to take on the role of creative director of Gucci. I am proud to be part of a maison with an extraordinary history and heritage, which over the years has been able to embrace and preserve values in which I believe. I am excited and excited to contribute to the brand through my creative vision”. In short, we will still have to wait a bit but we will certainly see some good ones. We at Michele Franzese Moda will be waiting and ready to see this new phase of Gucci style.
