Alessandro Michele leaves Gucci: the farewell is for creative (and economic) differences

The official announcement in the evening of November 23rd but the rumors leaked from the morning: this is how Alessandro Michele closes the most original chapter of Gucci

Yesterday evening the stories and social profiles of insiders but also of various show business personalities were all for him, incredulous to confirm and share rumors that had been whispering since the morning and that no one really wanted to believe. Impossible to think of the now finely sculpted image of Gucci without Alessandro Michele, yet it happened and for the fashion world and not only will it be the most shocking news of this 2022. At the base there are creative differences, different visions, officially and in that's the way it is, but behind the effect there is actually a more solid cause well hidden under the parting words shared on the brand's and Michele's social profiles.

Alessandro Michele leaves Gucci: the press release

Gucci's press release was concise, essential and grateful, Michele's farewell was passionate, deep and engraved in the heart, wishing the maison to continue its journey in the best possible way, clearly speaking of the need to take two different paths.

These are his words shared on Instagram in a post : “There are times when the paths separate due to the different perspectives that each of us can have. Today an extraordinary journey ends for me, which lasted more than twenty years, within a company to which I have tirelessly dedicated all my love and my creative passion. During this long period, Gucci has been my home, my adopted family. To this extended family, to all the individual people who have cared for and supported it, goes my most heartfelt thanks, my biggest and most moving embrace” .

Many personalities that Michele with his grace, his desire to create and dream has conquered and made ambassadors of the brand: Maneskin, Achille Lauro, Emma Marrone, starting from ours, Jared Leto, Harry Styles, Dakota Johnson, characters with whom we have gone beyond the patina by building relationships of esteem and affection. The same love that Michele reserves for the maison even in the moment of farewell, concluding the post thus: “Together with them I have desired, dreamed, imagined. Without them none of what I have built would have been possible. To them therefore my most sincere wish: may you continue to feed on your dreams, subtle and impalpable matter that makes a life worth living. May you continue to feed on poetic and inclusive imagery, remaining faithful to your values. May you always live by your passions, blown by the wind of freedom" .

The brilliant career in Gucci: new identity and memorable fashion shows

Alessandro Michele has been creative director of Gucci from 2015 to today and the turning point is under everyone's eye that with his original vision, his ability to tell a world made of dreams, fantasy, wonders but also respect and of inclusion has revolutionized the Gucci universe. He gave the brand a new, clear, decisive identity that looked to the past from a new point of view.

Many fashion shows that have fascinated. From the latest Gucci Cosmogonie to Aria which celebrated the maison's 100th anniversary in an unforgettable journey between the past and present of the dress code by Gucci, but also those they provoked, such as the autumn/winter 2018-2019 collection when models they paraded with severed heads carved in their image on their arms.

The break is not only creative, but also economic

It is no coincidence that this story built with love and wealth over time has made Gucci the most desired brand of the moment, a recognition however that is not enough for the Kering group in economic terms. In fact, at the root of the breakup is that natural economic cycle that evolves into a drop in sales: a result that Gucci, who had taken over the position of creative director of Michele at the time, is no longer happy with today. A third quarter of 2022 closed with 2,581 million euros, with a growth of 18%, below analysts' estimates.

And Alessandro Michele, faithful to his vision and aware of the built universe, of its ideals and values, probably preferred to preserve his style and identity in view of as many journeys, which may not have the spark of first love but they will know how to be differently passionate and engaging. Curious to find out what it will be, just as the Gucci evolution will continue.