Discussion: Who Should Be The Creative Director of Gucci?

[Creative]

Green square saying its Demna at Gucci

lmao that would be the nail in the coffin for Gucci

Looks like they won’t disclose it today…

 

[FashionPower]

OMG: Hedi
"
According to press rumors, today could be the decisive day for Gucci's style. It seems that the successor to Sabato De Sarno as creative director of the Kering-owned maison will be announced by the end of the trading day. The rumors of recent weeks, which have further intensified in Paris during the just-concluded Fashion Week, now almost confirm the arrival of Hedi Slimane as creative director.

Last month, the French giant announced the end of its collaboration with De Sarno, which had begun just two years ago. The group led by François-Henri Pinault had entrusted him with the arduous task of reviving the brand's sales, which were already struggling after the end of the "golden era" of Alessandro Michele, who had redefined the aesthetics of the fashion house for seven years. In the full year 2024, Gucci's revenues fell by 23% (21% at comparable exchange rates), with turnover thus settling at 7.6 billion euros. In the fourth quarter, the brand's revenues decreased by 24% on a comparable basis. During the recent Milan Fashion Week, the label presented a collection on the runway created by its in-house design team.

Will Slimane be able to turn the fortunes of the Florentine maison around? The skinny-chic aesthetic of the designer-photographer has not changed since his early days in the fashion world. Slimane has already worked for Kering on several occasions. In 1996, he was the artistic director of menswear at Yves Saint Laurent, where he first introduced his unmistakable silhouette, rich in super-slim garments, black-and-white styles, and, above all, highly successful accessories. From 2000 to 2007, he moved to LVMH, leading the Dior Homme line. In 2012, after dedicating himself to photography for a long time, he returned to Yves Saint Laurent, imposing the rebranding to Saint Laurent. In 2018, he was appointed creative director of Céline (LVMH), which he immediately renamed Celine, dropping the accent. He introduced the men's line for the first time and remained at the helm of the maison until the end of last year. Slimane is among the few fashion designers who can boast a true community, thanks to an identifying style that has always prevailed over the heritage of the maisons he has directed.

However, the relationship between the creative and Kering has not always been idyllic. In April 2018, Slimane won over 8 million euros in a lawsuit against the world's second-largest luxury group after being paid only 667,000 euros instead of 10 million euros for his non-compete clause. The designer is also the first established name to take the helm of Gucci. Historically, the maison has always been led by names less known to the mainstream public, starting with Tom Ford, followed by John Ray, Alessandra Facchinetti, and Frida Giannini, all of whom came from the design office of the Texan designer. Alessandro Michele himself was part of Giannini's team, and before joining Gucci, De Sarno was fashion director at Valentino."

 

[Xone]

OMG: Hedi
"
According to press rumors, today could be the decisive day for Gucci's style. It seems that the successor to Sabato De Sarno as creative director of the Kering-owned maison will be announced by the end of the trading day. The rumors of recent weeks, which have further intensified in Paris during the just-concluded Fashion Week, now almost confirm the arrival of Hedi Slimane as creative director.

Last month, the French giant announced the end of its collaboration with De Sarno, which had begun just two years ago. The group led by François-Henri Pinault had entrusted him with the arduous task of reviving the brand's sales, which were already struggling after the end of the "golden era" of Alessandro Michele, who had redefined the aesthetics of the fashion house for seven years. In the full year 2024, Gucci's revenues fell by 23% (21% at comparable exchange rates), with turnover thus settling at 7.6 billion euros. In the fourth quarter, the brand's revenues decreased by 24% on a comparable basis. During the recent Milan Fashion Week, the label presented a collection on the runway created by its in-house design team.

Will Slimane be able to turn the fortunes of the Florentine maison around? The skinny-chic aesthetic of the designer-photographer has not changed since his early days in the fashion world. Slimane has already worked for Kering on several occasions. In 1996, he was the artistic director of menswear at Yves Saint Laurent, where he first introduced his unmistakable silhouette, rich in super-slim garments, black-and-white styles, and, above all, highly successful accessories. From 2000 to 2007, he moved to LVMH, leading the Dior Homme line. In 2012, after dedicating himself to photography for a long time, he returned to Yves Saint Laurent, imposing the rebranding to Saint Laurent. In 2018, he was appointed creative director of Céline (LVMH), which he immediately renamed Celine, dropping the accent. He introduced the men's line for the first time and remained at the helm of the maison until the end of last year. Slimane is among the few fashion designers who can boast a true community, thanks to an identifying style that has always prevailed over the heritage of the maisons he has directed.

However, the relationship between the creative and Kering has not always been idyllic. In April 2018, Slimane won over 8 million euros in a lawsuit against the world's second-largest luxury group after being paid only 667,000 euros instead of 10 million euros for his non-compete clause. The designer is also the first established name to take the helm of Gucci. Historically, the maison has always been led by names less known to the mainstream public, starting with Tom Ford, followed by John Ray, Alessandra Facchinetti, and Frida Giannini, all of whom came from the design office of the Texan designer. Alessandro Michele himself was part of Giannini's team, and before joining Gucci, De Sarno was fashion director at Valentino."

wow So it's Hedi.... from where is this article?

We still have some hours of waiting...

 

[FashionPower]

wow So it's Hedi.... from where is this article?

We still have some hours of waiting...

Hedi Slimane vicino al timone creativo di Gucci: atteso per oggi l’annuncio

Secondo i rumors di stampa, oggi potrebbe essere il giorno decisivo per lo stile di Gucci. Sembra che verrà comunicato

www.pambianconews.com

If it's really Hedi, I give him 2 RTW shows before he gets beef with both Cantino and Bellettini...too many drama queens and ego at top management and creative level

 

[PDFSD]

lmao that would be the nail in the coffin for Gucci

Looks like they won’t disclose it today…

also heard from paris same and the schiaparelli guy to balenciaga ......such a soap cliff hanger today lol

 

[Xone]

Hedi Slimane vicino al timone creativo di Gucci: atteso per oggi l’annuncio

Secondo i rumors di stampa, oggi potrebbe essere il giorno decisivo per lo stile di Gucci. Sembra che verrà comunicato

www.pambianconews.com

If it's really Hedi, I give him 2 RTW shows before he gets beef with both Cantino and Bellettini...too many drama queens and ego at top management and creative level

They should create the drama queen club lol...

If it's Hedi, he must be very legally covered to prevent of a repeating story....but the article seems pretty sure is this...

With all the intel we had during Ancora's tenure..how we dont have more accurate info...

If it;s Hedi congrats cause the played the discretion card very well to avoid leaks..

 

[Xone]

also heard from paris same and the schiaparelli guy to balenciaga ......such a soap cliff hanger today lol

what? really??? well i prefer Daniel at Balenciaga than Demna...

 

[FashionPower]

They should create the drama queen club lol...

If it's Hedi, he must be very legally covered to prevent of a repeating story....but the article seems pretty sure is this...

With all the intel we had during Ancora's tenure..how we dont have more accurate info...

If it;s Hedi congrats cause the played the discretion card very well to avoid leaks..

The only insight and little hint we got was Hedi buying an apartment in Milan (that was couple months ago, right?)
That's why most people started speculating on Hedi going to Armani. After the lawsuit drama, no one would have thought that Pinault had given green light to get one of his "enemies" at the helm of the biggest Kering brand

 

[FashionPower]

Not green square speculating on Demna going to Gucci and Mulier replacing Demna at Balenciaga
This day felt like a whole fashion month, too much drama

 

[Olaffo]

It would be shockingly stupid to put him at the helm of Gucci due to his well known obsession of control of everything which stands in vivid contrast to Gucci’s plan to split creative directorship and have team design 50% of boutiques (which btw he will redesign with his own furniture). That would be a shitshow honestly hahah

 

[IndigoHomme]

what? really??? well i prefer Daniel at Balenciaga tan Demna...

We prefer ANYONE in Balenciaga tan Demna

 

[IndigoHomme]

Green square saying its Demna at Gucci

Does Kering never tire of shooting itself in the foot?

 

[proseccotabis]

Green square saying its Demna at Gucci

Nothing would surprise me at this point at Kering lol

 

[HigthaVandah]

Not green square speculating on Demna going to Gucci and Mulier replacing Demna at Balenciaga
This day felt like a whole fashion month, too much drama

Is this Demna thing credible at all?

 

[Xone]

Not green square speculating on Demna going to Gucci and Mulier replacing Demna at Balenciaga
This day felt like a whole fashion month, too much drama

Yeah fashion month just finished…we deserve to rest!

So crazy so many names and changes…

I feel sorry for all the historical houses…greedy people…

 

[Creative]

I am gonna get a burnout just by reading this thread

I always feel a little bit bad when a designer whose fame was basically thanks to a very specific opportunity (they guy from Schiap) decides to leave for a higher paycheck. I know it's ok and fair and everything, but still.

Tbh, the Demna thing I give it 0 credit. It's just impossible. Of course he needs to leave Balenciaga, but hire him at Gucci in 2025? That would make even less sense than the Proenza guys at Loewe.

 

[GIVENCHYlover]

^ When Demna arrived at Balenciaga, sales hovered around $350 million. By 2022, sales surged to about $2 billion

Gucci needs a completely different style, but I'm afraid Demna has run out of ideas

 

[SpeedRacer666]

Green square saying its Demna at Gucci

Green Square lost all credibility with Kanye @ Margiela. Also pretty sure all the Hedi / Gucci rumours stem from this account (just as absurd if you ask me).

 

[HigthaVandah]

Green Square lost all credibility with Kanye @ Margiela. Also pretty sure all the Hedi / Gucci rumours stem from this account (just as absurd if you ask me).

Who do you expect it to be, then?

 

[style_expert]

So Demna it is! Confirmed by Vogue Business. Shocked by this lame decision tbh.