Sabato De Sarno - Designer, Creative Director of Gucci

[LenaLena]

But why would Kering want to get the "core Gucci client" back if they tripled sales without them? From a business point of view that makes no sense. Gucci under Alessandro did $10 billion without that appealing to that supposed core clientele.

It's a matter of brand heritage identity, it's not about actual numbers. Once a luxury brand looses the lux heritage it's no way back to the market. Hence the change of strategy at Gucci and more brands.

 

[grimm]

It will take time to bring back the original Gucci client.
Hype is great for brand awarness, actual sales is something else.
Dropping hearts at IG accounts does not translate to actual sales and
this was the whole issue with Michelle, too much hype, not enough sales.

I don't say Di Sarno is great, he's not. He's just a guy doing what has been asked from him. Brands are not dependent on designers, this is not the '90s.

How can you say Michele's hype didn't translate to sales? The numbers speak for themselves. He grew the business from €3.9bn to €9.7bn. That is a phenomenal amount. And he was just a guy doing what he was asked to do. Difference was his worked.

 

[LenaLena]

That´s the big mistake here. No CEO nor marketing campaigns are going to revive a brand. The only way of reviving a brand is through a designer able to do it. If the final product (clothes and accessories) is not desirable, there is nothing it can be done.

Oh no, this is not the 90's don't be nostalgic of by gone eras.
No matter if you agree or not, this is 2024, the luxury fashion section is plain, raw unsuccesful marketing. Boring? Yes! But this is it.

If you do not agree with their strategy just send your own brilliant suggestions to Gucci.

 

[GivenchyHomme]

I must say, there’s a certain poetic justice unfolding here. For years, they’ve mistreated their designers, and now it seems they’re reaping the consequences. Their current roster of employees appear to lack the skill and vision to steer their brands effectively, including the designers themselves. Let’s not forget, Sabato wasn’t exactly Gucci’s first choice. It’s no wonder why designers are so reluctant to join a company that’s quick to abandon its creatives at the first sign of trouble. The transgressions against their former designers are unforgivable: from suing those who dare to speak out, as in the case of Nicolas Ghesquière, to attempting to withhold compensation, as they did with Hedi Slimane; from controlling the narrative, as Alessandro Michele experienced, to the unceremonious exits of Tom Ford and Frida Giannini. The company is in dire need of transformation, but how that will come about remains uncertain.

 

[nationalsalt]

I must say, there’s a certain poetic justice unfolding here. For years, they’ve mistreated their designers, and now it seems they’re reaping the consequences. Their current roster of employees appear to lack the skill and vision to steer their brands effectively, including the designers themselves. Let’s not forget, Sabato wasn’t exactly Gucci’s first choice. It’s no wonder why designers are so reluctant to join a company that’s quick to abandon its creatives at the first sign of trouble. The transgressions against their former designers are unforgivable: from suing those who dare to speak out, as in the case of Nicolas Ghesquière, to attempting to withhold compensation, as they did with Hedi Slimane; from controlling the narrative, as Alessandro Michele experienced, to the unceremonious exits of Tom Ford and Frida Giannini. The company is in dire need of transformation, but how that will come about remains uncertain.

Who was their first choice?

 

[jeanclaude]

Oh no, this is not the 90's don't be nostalgic of by gone eras.
No matter if you agree or not, this is 2024, the luxury fashion section is plain, raw unsuccesful marketing. Boring? Yes! But this is it.

If you do not agree with their strategy just send your own brilliant suggestions to Gucci.

Yes, I know we are not in the 90s anymore; but it is not a question of nostalgia, it is a question of common sense.
Marketing is not magic, you can´t transform a mediocre product into something desirable by just using it. A turd with glitter is still a turd, no matter what.

It is obvious their strategy is not working at all. But as long as I am concerned, Gucci and Kering could go to bankruptcy and disappear. The people who should care about this are the ones working there, which is not my case (and it will never be).

 

[Plax]

For sure, I don't think he is a good designer or has a single direction. But it's super scary to see that people are expecting continuous growth for this enourmous brand. They made more than three times growth in AM's tenure which is super crazy. I think it's natural to lose a bit.

For me, It's just so scary this industry gets super greedy in recent years. I don't say they weren't in the past. Now, it's too too too much, and it's only about money money money. It's just too sad to see it.

 

[justpassingthrough]

For me, It's just so scary this industry gets super greedy in recent years. I don't say they weren't in the past. Now, it's too too too much, and it's only about money money money. It's just too sad to see it.

I’ve worked in luxury retail for over a decade, within recent years whenever I interview for a CA position I’m very passionate about vocalizing how important it is for fashion houses to sell clients DREAMS & to have a strong creative team to do that. I also touch on the importance of creating relationships with new prospective clients for long term results & I’m realizing lately…most companies I interview for don’t want to hear about the emotional side of selling.

I’ve always been so proud of myself for never having a problem finding work in this industry until recently. Companies generally only want to hear names & numbers these days & I feel like there’s so much more that I have to offer than KPIs.

Not to mention seeing first hand HOW MUCH these companies mark up & profit knowing the quality doesn’t align with price hikes. Working in this industry lately has really made me think about these businesses a lot differently. It’s really sad to see how much has changed in such a short amount of time right before my eyes.

 

[yslforever]

For sure, I don't think he is a good designer or has a single direction. But it's super scary to see that people are expecting continuous growth for this enourmous brand. They made more than three times growth in AM's tenure which is super crazy. I think it's natural to lose a bit.

For me, It's just so scary this industry gets super greedy in recent years. I don't say they weren't in the past. Now, it's too too too much, and it's only about money money money. It's just too sad to see it.

I, personally, don't expect enormous continuous growth from fashion or more luxury brands, I am not publicly quoted nor publish quaterly reports. I expect them to respect their products and their clients, offering them a serious set of products or styles that are ethically clean, meticulously crafted, in a sustainable way, and that should be able to go through ups and downs of economic cycles.
A lot of the last price increases had nothing to do with the products, or their rising productions costs, but mainly MBAs or boards decisions, to set themselves in the benchmarks. But MBAs aren't stupid people, they know it's not sustainable at middle or long-term, they do what their greedy shareholders, thinking 3 months ahead, order them.