Italian Sabato Di Sarno appointed as Creative Director of Gucci

Paris: Italian Sabato Di Sarno has been appointed creative director of the House of Gucci, the parent group, Kering, announced on Saturday.

Di Sarno, who oversaw the men’s and women’s collections for Valentino, will present his first runway collection for Gucci at Milan Women’s Fashion Week in September.

The Neapolitan designer succeeds Alessandro Michele, who left the Italian luxury brand in November after seven years as creative director.

In 2015 Gucci hired Michele to restart sluggish sales at the house and breathe new life into the brand with bold, often highly ornate and playful collections, but he did not succeed in increasing sales with the same momentum as Gucci’s competitors.

Di Sarno will lead Gucci’s design studio and report to the fashion house’s CEO, Marco Bizzarri.

Bizzarri explained that Di Sarno’s role will be to “define the house’s creative vision and express it through the collections of women’s, men’s, leather and accessories products.”

“I am proud to join a house with such an extraordinary history and heritage that, over the years, has been able to embrace and cherish the values ​​I believe in,” Di Sarno said.

Di Sarno began his career at Prada in 2005, then moved to Dolce & Gabbana before joining Valentino in 2009 where he rose through the ranks to become Fashion Director.