Stefano Gallici, previously holding the position of menswear designer at Ann Demeulemeester, has been elevated to the role of creative director. He succeeds Ludovic de Saint Sernin, who stepped down from the position in May after a brief tenure of one season, marking his debut with a collection showcase at the forthcoming Paris Fashion Week on September 30th.
During his initial showcase, the previous designer unveiled 36 distinct styles, each one a modern reinterpretation that honored the brand’s historic silhouettes, while contemporarily reimagined.
Born in 1996, Gallici’s association with Ann Demeulemeester goes beyond his recent responsibilities as the brand’s menswear designer. A graduate of the esteemed IUAV architecture and design university in Venice, he embarked on his career journey in Antwerp, Belgium. Gallici’s earliest professional experience includes his stint as an assistant designer to Haider Ackermann, prior to joining the Antonioli Group in early 2019.
In 2020, Gallici moved back to Antwerp to join the fashion house of Ann Demeulemeester, coinciding with the brand’s acquisition by the Antonioli Group, a venture of Claudio Antonioli.
Antonioli praised Gallici stating, “Stefano immediately exhibited potent creativity and a coherent vision for Ann Demeulemeester. He embodies the brand’s DNA with a perspective that is forward-looking”.
Despite his relatively subdued presence in the fashion industry, boasting more than 5000 Instagram followers, Gallici‘s unique, darkly romantic rocker interpretations of Demeulemeester men’s fashion have earned him a dedicated fanbase.
The eponymous brand was established by Ann Demeulemeester in 1985, earning her a devoted following through her deeply emotive interpretation of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion fashion and faded colonial elegance. Demeulemeester, a member of the illustrious Antwerp Six, alongside designers like Dries Van Noten and Dirk Bikkembergs, stood out for her imaginative and edgy design philosophy.
However, in 2013, weary from the rigors of delivering four collections annually, Demeulemeester sold her fashion empire to businesswoman Anne Chapellee. Demeulemeester then devoted her time to the world of poetry and ceramics while maintaining a close relationship with the brand. Her contributions to homeware and lighting design, among other creative endeavors, are showcased at the Antwerp store. In June of the previous year, she organized an exhibition at the Pitti Uomo men’s trade show in Florence to commemorate the label’s 40-year journey.
Following Demeulemeester’s exit, Sébastien Meunier stepped in as creative director until July 2020, when Antonioli took over ownership of the brand, including its vast archives, headquarters, historic flagship in Antwerp and Parisian showroom.
While Demeulemeester no longer plays an active role within the house, she remains a public supporter of the brand and has attended recent shows during Antonioli’s tenure. As a former co-owner of the New Guards group, now sold to Farfetch and currently managing multi-brand boutiques in Milan, Ibiza, Turin, and Lugano, Antonioli has integrated the luxury streetwear brand 44 Label Group into his Dreamers Factory conglomerate.
Ann Demeulemeester is now headquartered in Milan’s fashion-centric Via Savona. With a robust team of over 50 employees, including 12 designers, the brand aims to reinterpret Demeulemeester’s unique style for the modern era, while targeting a medium-range price bracket.
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