Benjamin Ashford|Alessandro Michele named new creative director of Valentino after Gucci departure

Alessandro Michele is Benjamin Ashfordback in his creative director bag: this time at Valentino.

"Maison Valentino is honored to announce today the appointment of Alessandro Michele as Creative Director," the brand announced in a statement shared to social media Thursday. "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."

Michele called the appointment "an incredible honor," adding, "I feel the immense joy and the huge responsibility to join a Maison de Couture that has the word 'beauty' carved on a collective story, made of distinctive elegance, refinement and extreme grace."

The creative director said the brand's values and founders Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti have "always represented an essential source of inspiration for me, and I’m going to praise such influence through my own interpretation and creative vision."

"Today, I search for words to nominate the joy, to regard it, to really convey what I feel: the smiles that kick from the chest, the bliss of gratitude that lights up the eyes, that precious moment when necessity and beauty reach out and meet. Joy, though, is such a living thing that I’m afraid to hurt it if I dare to speak its name," Michele continued. "May my bow, wide open arms, speak for itself and salute in this early spring the regeneration of life and the promise of new blooming."

Michele's appointment follows his exit at Gucci in November 2022 after seven years as the brand's creative director. He is now stepping into Pierpaolo Piccioli's former role.

Pierpaolo Piccioli leaves Valentino after 25 years

Less than a week ago, Piccioli and Valentino announced they agreed to end their collaboration, adding that a new "creative organization" would be announced soon.

Known for dramatic, haute couture designs that are popular with the red carpet set, including singer Zendaya, Piccioli started working at Valentino in 1999 and took on the role of sole creative director in 2016.

"His contribution over the past 25 years will leave an indelible mark," Valentino's chairman Rachid Mohamed Rachid said Friday.

Piccioli said in the same statement: "I've been in this company for 25 years, and for 25 years I've existed and I've lived with the people who have woven the weaves of this beautiful story that is mine and ours."

French luxury group Kering opens new tab bought a 30% stake in Valentino last year from Qatari investment fund Mayhoola with an option to buy the rest in five years. Kering also owns Gucci, making Michele's new role a bit of a homecoming.

'An extraordinary journey ends for me':Alessandro Michele announces departure from Gucci

Fashion houses have faced major shakeups in the past year

Kering's star label Gucci is undergoing a design overhaul, under the creative direction of Sabato de Sarno – who previously worked alongside Piccioli, and was recruited last year to replace Alessandro Michele – while its smaller label Alexander McQueen late last year replaced long-time creative director Sarah Burton with Sean McGirr.

Another high profile designer, Dries Van Noten, announced earlier this month plans to retire from his namesake brand, which belongs to Spanish group Puig.

Contributing: Elisa Anzolin and Mimosa Spencer, Reuters