Alessandro Michele has been officially appointed as the new creative director of Valentino. As reported by Vogue, Michele will commence his role on April 2nd at the Piazza Manganelli ateliers in Rome, where he will unveil his inaugural SS25 summer collection at Paris Fashion Week following the summer season. Additionally, Michele will take charge of overseeing the development of the brand’s Haute Couture lines for the first time. Expressing his enthusiasm for the new venture, Michele announced his intention to delve into Valentino’s archives starting next week, emphasizing their significance as a key wellspring of inspiration for his creative vision: “These references have always been a fundamental source of inspiration for me, and I intend to pay homage to that influence through my interpretation and creative vision,” stated the designer.

The collaboration marks Alessandro Michele’s return to Kering, which had recently obtained a 30% share in Valentino, along with an option to purchase the entire brand by 2028—a move likely to be executed if the brand demonstrates profitability. Given Michele’s previous successes at Gucci, there is already a strong indication of potential success for Valentino under his leadership.