Gucci has ended its two-year collaboration with Creative director Sabato de Sarno, just days before the house’s Fall/Winter 2025 show. The upcoming presentation in Milan on February 25th would be presented by the in-house team.
Sabato de Sarno’s brief chapter at Gucci comes to an abrupt end, marking yet another move in a season already marked by turbulence across the European luxury sector.
“I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sabato for his passion and dedication to Gucci. I sincerely appreciate how he honored Gucci’s craftsmanship and heritage with such commitment,” stated Stefano Cantino, Gucci’s Chief Executive Officer, of the sudden announcement. The brand faces this transition while navigating challenging market conditions, with recent reports showing a 25% decline in organic sales in the third quarter.
Hired in January 2023 to replace Alessandro Michele, who now heads Valentino, de Sarno’s vision for Gucci was to shift the brand’s aesthetic toward more wearable collections, a departure from Alessandro Michele’s maximalist approach. He presented his first collection – the Spring/Summer 2024 womenswear collection – in September 2023 during Milan Fashion Week.
The Italian designer grew up in Naples and began his career at Prada in 2005, moving on to Dolce & Gabbana before joining Valentino in 2009. At Valentino, he served as fashion director under Pierpaolo Piccioli, overseeing both men’s and women’s collections.
Francesca Bellettini, Kering’s Deputy CEO in charge of brand development, said: “I sincerely thank Sabato for his loyalty and professionalism. I am proud of the work that has been done to further strengthen Gucci’s fundamentals. Stefano and the new artistic direction will continue to build on this and to guide Gucci towards renewed fashion leadership and sustainable growth.”
Gucci management confirms plans to announce a new artistic leadership in the near future. The brand will continue to pursue its elevation strategy, focusing on new handbag lines and ready-to-wear essentials, and prioritizing streamlined collections and faster production cycles.
de Sarno’s departure reflects a broader wave of creative instability. In recent months, John Galliano left Maison Margiela, Hedi Slimane stepped down from Celine, and Kim Jones resigned from Dior Men and Fendi.
