Designer Alessandro Michele announces his departure from Gucci

In 2014, his arrival at the artistic direction of Gucci had created a surprise.

His departure, announced Wednesday evening November 23 after a day of rumors and speculation reported by

, produces the same effect.

After twenty years with the company and playing a major role in the transformation of the Italian brand, Alessandro Michele is stepping down from his duties.

The 49-year-old Italian designer entered the walls of the Florentine house in 2002, earning his spurs as a creative assistant.

In December 2014, he was promoted to artistic director by François-Henri Pinault.

Unknown to the fashion world at the time, he took over from designer Frida Giannini, who had left suddenly, for whom he was the right arm.

From the outset, he wrote his legend by designing the collection (men) in five days.

This was presented in January 2015.

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This first fashion show carried out in record time leaves observers cautious, but unanimous: Alessandro Michele gives a facelift to the Italian label.

Transparency, questions around identity and gender, assumed eccentricity, strong and desirable accessories: the Italian is relaunching the machine, property of the Kering group, whose sales had run out of steam over the last decade.

The look revised by Michele arouses the enthusiasm of customers, including a large proportion of

as well as personalities like Jared Leto or Harry Styles, two close to the designer, and more recently the Frenchwoman Lou Doillon.

Gucci becomes the flagship of the French group (also owner of Balenciaga and Saint Laurent), and sees itself being the source of most of its profits.

But the growth was starting to slow lately.

Declining sales which could explain the departure of the Italian, as well as the emergence of divergent visions.

“An extraordinary journey”

“There are times when paths diverge due to the different perspectives each of us may have,” Alessandro Michele said in a note published by Gucci.

And to continue: "Today, an extraordinary journey comes to an end for me, which lasted more than twenty years, within a company to which I have tirelessly devoted all my love and my creative passion."

“The path traveled together by Gucci and Alessandro in recent years is unique, and will remain as an extraordinary moment in the history of the house.

I am grateful to Alessandro for investing himself in such a personal way in this adventure.

His passion, imagination, fantasy and culture have helped put Gucci back in the limelight, where it belongs.

I wish him the best for the rest of his creative journey

” said François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of the Kering group.

The question now will focus on the future of the Italian designer, and that of Gucci.

For the time being, the brand indicated that “the creative studio will continue to provide creative responsibility until a new organization is announced”.

The men's collection should be unveiled normally, in January, in Milan.

As for Alessandro Michele, speculation over his future has only just begun.