Months of speculation drew to a close this past weekend, with the news that Sabato De Sarno will succeed Alessandro Michele as the new Creative Director at Gucci.
In his new role, De Sarno will lead the House’s Design Studio reporting to Marco Bizzarri, President and CEO of Gucci, with the responsibility for defining and expressing the House’s “creative vision” across the women’s, men’s, leather goods, accessories and lifestyle collections.
In a press release announcing the news, De Sarno says of his appointment: “I am deeply honoured to take on the role as Creative Director of Gucci. I am proud to join a House with such an extraordinary history and heritage, that over the years has been able to welcome and cherish values I believe in. I am touched and excited to contribute my creative vision for the brand.”
With Bizzarri adding: “I am delighted that Sabato will join Gucci as the House’s new Creative Director, one of the most influential roles in the luxury industry. Having worked with a number of Italy’s most renowned luxury fashion houses, he brings with him a vast and relevant experience. I am certain that through Sabato’s deep understanding and appreciation for Gucci’s unique legacy, he will lead our creative teams with a distinctive vision that will help write this exciting next chapter, reinforcing the House’s fashion authority while capitalising on its rich heritage.”
Though little is known about De Sarno, here are 10 fun facts we managed to uncover about Gucci’s new Creative Director…
Sabato De Sarno was born in Naples on Thursday, March 31st 1983.
He attended the IED European Institute of Design in Milan, where he studied fashion design.
He began his career at Prada in 2005, before moving to Dolce & Gabbana.
In 2009 he joined Valentino in 2009, where he held several positions before being appointed Fashion Director of the brand, overseeing both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections.
He was credited for steering the Italian fashion house in an “elegant yet commercial direction, beloved by fashion purists”.
Though fiercely protective of his personal life, Sabato has been with his partner since 2012 and sporadically posts images online of the pair to mark key relationship milestones and anniversaries.
The couple have a mini sausage dog called Pucchiacchella (the name of a Neapolitan pasta dish).
As a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights, Sabato has championed and continuously publicly spoken out in favour of marriage equality.
His official Instagram account (@sabatods) boasts 32.5k followers.
De Sarno’s first Gucci runway collection will be unveiled during Milan Fashion Week in September.
