GUCCI'S DE SARNO EXITS AFTER TWO-YEAR TENURE

Vogue México

Sabato De Sarno is leaving his position as creative director at Gucci, marking another shift for the Italian luxury house. The announcement comes shortly before the brand's Fall/Winter 2025 presentation at Milan Fashion Week, which will now be handled by Gucci's in-house design team.

De Sarno's departure follows a relatively brief tenure that began in January 2023, when he succeeded Alessandro Michele. His time at Gucci saw attempts to refine the house's aesthetic while maintaining its heritage, though the full impact of his creative direction remained yet to be fully realized in the market.

Before joining Gucci, De Sarno built his career through roles at several prominent Italian fashion houses. He served as fashion director at Valentino and held positions at both Prada and Dolce & Gabbana, bringing this accumulated expertise to his work at Gucci.

In response to the announcement, Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino acknowledged De Sarno's contributions, particularly noting his attention to the house's craftsmanship traditions. Francesca Bellettini, deputy CEO of parent company Kering, pointed to the strengthening of Gucci's core elements during his tenure.

The luxury house has not yet named a successor. This transition period comes at a time when Gucci, like many luxury brands, faces evolving consumer preferences and market dynamics. The upcoming Milan Fashion Week show will serve as a bridge between creative directions as the house determines its next chapter.

Fashion industry observers will be watching closely to see who takes the creative helm at Gucci, as the choice will likely influence the brand's direction in an increasingly competitive luxury market. The timing of the announcement, just weeks before a major runway presentation, adds another layer of complexity to the transition.