Sabato De Sarno named Gucci’s new creative director

Announcing the go in a joint press release Saturday, the Italian label and its parent corporation, Kering, explained the 39-calendar year-aged will be responsible for “defining and expressing the House’s inventive vision.”
The appointment came as one thing of a surprise to marketplace insiders. Nevertheless De Sarno is acknowledged in style circles for his function at Valentino, wherever he currently oversees menswear and womenswear beneath imaginative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the Naples-born designer has nonetheless to helm a key label and has a somewhat minimal general public profile.
In a assertion, De Sarno stated he was “deeply honored” to consider the purpose, which will see him steer Gucci’s women’s and men’s collections though also overseeing its leather-based goods, equipment and life-style divisions.
“I am proud to be a part of a Household with this kind of an remarkable record and heritage, that in excess of the a long time has been equipped to welcome and cherish values I believe in,” he additional.
Michele’s tenure also coincided with a large uptick in gross sales. Kering owns quite a few other luxurious manufacturers — such as Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Saint Laurent, among the other people — but Gucci now accounts for about two-thirds of the group’s income, creating described revenues of 9.7 billion euros ($10.5 billion) in 2021.

Gucci’s show at Men’s Vogue 7 days in Milan earlier this month was its initially given that the departure of De Sarno’s predecessor, Alessandro Michele. Credit history: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Illustrations or photos for Gucci
Outside of Gucci, Kering has a observe report of appointing relative outsiders to top rated positions, this sort of as Demna Gvasalia and Matthieu Blazy. Each have long gone on to make their marks as inventive directors at Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta, respectively.
Gucci’s president and CEO, Marco Bizzarri, noted De Sarno’s “extensive and related expertise,” adding: “I am certain that … he will direct our inventive groups with a distinct vision that will aid produce this exciting up coming chapter, reinforcing the House’s manner authority though capitalizing on its wealthy heritage.”
Kering’s chairman & CEO, the French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, meanwhile reported: “With Sabato De Sarno at the inventive helm, we are assured that the Residence will continue both equally to impact style and lifestyle by way of really attractive items and collections, and to bring a singular and contemporary viewpoint to fashionable luxury.”