UPDATE: MARCH 29, 7AM AEDT:
In exciting news, Maison Valentino has announced today the appointment of Alessandro Michele as the House’s new Creative Director, effective April 2. Michele, who most recently held the top job at Gucci for seven years, will replace the beloved Pierpaolo Piccioli who was at the helm of the Maison since 2016 and within the company for 25 years.
“It’s an incredible honour for me to be welcomed at Maison Valentino,” Michele says. “I feel the immense joy and the huge responsibility to join a Maison de Couture that has the word ‘beauty’ carved on a collective story, made of distinctive elegance, refinement and extreme grace.
“Today, I search for words to nominate the joy, to regard it, to really convey what I feel: the smiles that kick from the chest, the bliss of gratitude that lights up the eyes, that precious moment when necessity and beauty reach out and meet. Joy, though, is such a living thing that I’m afraid to hurt it if I dare to speak its name.”
Chairman of Valentino, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, praised Michele’s profound intelligence and the experience he will bring to the role.
“The appointment of Alessandro Michele marks another pivotal moment for Maison Valentino,” Rachid said. “Michele is an exceptional talent and his appointment underlines our great ambitions for Maison Valentino. I strongly believe that with his unique creativity and sensibility, he will continue the elevation of the brand’s everlasting heritage and unique Italian Maison de Couture identity.
“With Alessandro Michele a new page of excellence and endless beauty is ready to be written in the history of Valentino.”
More to come.
ORIGINAL STORY: MARCH 23, 8AM AEDT:
After 25 years at Valentino—eight of which were spent at its helm—creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli is stepping down from his post to make way for “a new creative organisation.”
The Maison and Piccioli announced the parting of ways in joint statement released to the world on March 23. In his time at the top, the latter significantly shaped and deftly modernised the house’s trajectory with a technical skill evidenced in his spectacular couture collections (never forget Chantilly) and ready-to-wear.
“I’ve been in this company for 25 years, and for 25 years I’ve existed and I’ve lived with the people who have woven the weaves of this beautiful story that is mine and ours,” Piccioli began. “Everything existed and exists thanks to the people I met, with whom I worked, with whom I shared dreams and created beauty, with whom I built something that belongs to all, and that remains immutable and tangible. This heritage of love, dreams, beauty and humanity, I carry it with me, today and forever.
“This is the beauty that we have created: life, hope, opportunity and gratitude, and my people, my heart, and the love that gives you all the possibilities of the world, especially those that you could not imagine alone,” he continued. “Thanks to Mr. Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti who have blessed me with their trust, thanks to every single person who made this possible in one way or another, it was a privilege and an honour to share my journey, and my dreams, with you.”
Jacopo Venturini, Valentino’s CEO also released a statement.
“I am grateful to Pierpaolo for his role as Creative Director and for his vision, commitment and creativity that have brought the Maison Valentino to what it stands for today,” he said.
Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Chairman of the Maison extended his thanks to Piccioli.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Pierpaolo for writing an important chapter in the history of the Maison Valentino. His contribution over the past 25 years will leave an indelible mark.”
The news follows Dries Van Noten’s retirement announcement this week. Maison Valentino promises the configuration of the new creative organisation will be announced soon.
More to come.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.