BREAKING: Sabato De Sarno Exits Gucci
MILAN – Gucci revealed in a brief statement Thursday morning that it was ending its collaboration with creative director Sabato De Sarno. The fall fashion show in Milan on February 25 will be presented by the Gucci design office.
The new artistic direction will be announced in due time.
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“I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sabato for his passion and dedication to Gucci. I sincerely appreciate how he honored Gucci’s craftsmanship and heritage with such commitment,” said Stefano Cantino, Gucci’s chief executive officer.
Francesca Bellettini, Kering deputy CEO in charge of brand development, said: “I sincerely thank Sabato for his loyalty and professionalism. I am proud of the work that has been done to further strengthen Gucci’s fundamentals. Stefano and the new artistic direction will continue to build on this and to guide Gucci towards renewed fashion leadership and sustainable growth.”
De Sarno’s exit comes amid a flurry of creative shifts roiling Europe’s heritage houses, revealed only a few days after Kim Jones announced his resignation at Dior Homme.
Fendi has yet to announce the successor to Jones, who last October stepped down after four years as its artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women.
Thursday’s announcement comes on the eve of Kering revealing its fourth-quarter and full-year results on Feb. 11.
De Sarno’s first show took place during Milan Fashion Week in September 2023. The designer, who was hired by then-president and CEO Marco Bizzarri, was raised in Naples, and began his career at Prada in 2005, moving to Dolce & Gabbana, before joining Valentino in 2009. At the Rome-based brand, he held positions of increasing responsibility, finally being appointed fashion director overseeing both men’s and women’s collections.
De Sarno was expected to unveil Gucci’s cruise 2026 collection with a show in Florence on May 15, paying tribute to the city where the brand was founded in 1921.
De Sarno’s first cruise collection was held in London last May at Tate Modern with guests including Dua Lipa, Demi Moore, Paul Mescal, and Kate and Lila Moss.
Gucci is in the midst of a turnaround under Cantino, who rose to the role in January, succeeding Jean-François Palus.
As the luxury industry has been facing a slowdown in spending, Kering’s marquee brand has been struggling with declining revenues for a few seasons and De Sarno’s collections have been met with mixed reviews. In the third quarter, organic sales at Gucci declined 25 percent, versus analysts’ predictions for a 21 percent drop. In reported terms, revenues fell 26 percent to 1.64 billion euros.
Gucci has been pursuing an elevation strategy, and, as reported, management is pinning its hopes on the introduction of new handbag lines, alongside a collection of ready-to-wear essentials building on De Sarno’s best-performing designs so far, a shorter time to market and a streamlined distribution and offer.
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