Mesmerizing the whole fashion system, Italian designer Alessandro Michele is famous for his maximalist vision. Behind the extravagance of his crafts, Sona Fong take a deeper look at this cultural icon with 10 facts about him
- Former Creative Director of Gucci
“Non conformist, romantic, intellectual”, undeniably Michele’s era at Gucci, the Roman fashion luxury house. From 2015 to 2023, he served as the Creative Director of the House, bringing the House a vintage sense of idiosyncrasy.
- Took over the helm of the Italian luxury fashion house Valentino
With the SS25 collection of the label at the Paris Fashion Week 2024, he debuted as the Creative Director of Valentino. Following the footsteps of Pierpaolo Picccioli, Michele is tenacious about giving new energy for the Roman Maison.
- Studied costume design instead of high fashion
As a matter of fact, Michele studied theatrical costumes at Rome’s Academy of Costume and Fashion. Nevertheless, when he was introduced to the realm of fashion, he realized that fashion is his destiny.
- Made a name in the industry with his re-imagination of nostalgia
Throughout Alessandro Michele’s career, he often combined nostalgic archives with contemporary elements. For instance, for his first collection “Avant le Débuts” at Valentino, he was inspired by the brand’s founder Valentino Garavani’s 1968 “White Fashion Show”. This showcased his vision for the House — melodious blend for timeless beauty and bold modernism.
- Grew up in Rome
It is no exaggeration to say that Michele grew up in a family plunged with art and creativity. His mother’s love for cinema and his father’s interest in sculpture indispensably fostered his intuitive aesthetic.
- Maximalist fascination extends to his apartment
Apart from his designs, Michele’s home in Rome is a perfect testament of his unique eclectic aesthetic. Stepping into his apartment, you would find yourself immersed in his captivating collections of Dutch Delft tiles and ancient wood-and-glass cabinets.
- The celebrity of celebrities
During his time at Gucci, the designer has gained innumerable attention from celebrities. No one can forget his iconic twinning with Jared Leto at the 2022 Met Gala — twin cream-colored tuxedos embellished with floral embroidery and the identical hairstyle.
- Been challenging gender-binary with masterpieces after masterpiece
Facing the historical fashion house of Gucci, he marked his first movie of gender-bending wardrobe with the Gucci Men’s FW15 collection. As for the latest season, he further pushes this boundary with Valentino’s FW 25 collection.
- Not only a designer, but also an author and philosopher
Delving into the profound correlation between fashion and philosophy, Michele co-authors the book “The Life of Forms—Theory of the Re-enchantment” with philosopher Emanuele Coccia.
- Created a harmonious collaboration between Gucci and street art
At Lan Kwai Fong Central, murals setting for Michele’s collections were featured under the Gucci Art Walls project. Under this direction of Michele, his creation no longer limits on the runway, but also pavements around the world.
