Moschino has announced its new creative director as Davide Renne. On October 16, the 40-year-old Italian house revealed that Renne would take on the role from November 1 to oversee women’s, men’s and accessories for the mainline.
The designer’s appointment follows the recent vogue for creative directors to have been chosen from behind the scenes. Renne spent 20 years working at Gucci, eventually becoming head designer of womenswear, echoing the recent hirings of Chemena Kamali at Chloé and Seán McGirr at Alexander McQueen.
Moschino has long been known and celebrated for its sense of irreverence and fun, which Renne has confirmed will remain as he establishes his own vision for the house. ‘Franco Moschino had a nickname for his design studio: la sala giochi – the playroom. This resonates deeply with me: what fashion – Italian fashion especially, and the house of Moschino most of all, can achieve with its enormous power, should be accomplished with a sense of play, of joy. A sense of discovery, and experimentation,’ he said in a statement released by the house.
Speaking of his appointment by Massimo Ferretti, executive chairman, Aeffe SpA (Moschino’s parent company), Renne added: ‘I am very conscious of the honour that Mr. Ferretti – a gentleman who has been almost fatherly in his ability to listen and establish a dialogue during our encounters – has bestowed upon me in taking charge of the house founded by one of fashion’s great minds. So, thank you Mr. Ferretti for giving me the keys to your playroom. I can’t wait to begin – we’ll have fun. Together.’
In response, Ferretti explained that Renne was chosen to take the helm after he was ‘impressed by Davide’s extremely sophisticated vision of fashion’s power to create a living dialogue with the world around us, and by his deep understanding of the house of Moschino’s legacy and of our codes’.
‘He is a brilliant designer, and a special human being: Franco used to say that bad manners are the only true bad taste and getting to know Davide I have been struck not only by his obvious talent but by his kindness, his sensibility. We are confident that he will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Moschino, a global house with an Italian heart, and a truly unique DNA in the luxury industry,’ he added.
Since Jeremy Scott departed the house after 10 years in March 2023, Moschino has been without a creative director. Instead, for its SS24 collection, it called on four of the world’s most celebrated stylists — Katie Grand, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele and Lucia Liu — to interpret the house’s codes through their unique vision, which was shown in September at Milan Fashion Week.
Now, however, there’s not long to wait for Moschino’s new era. Renne’s first show has been confirmed as taking place during Milan Fashion Week AW24 in February. Here’s hoping for that tongue-in-cheek irreverence that has not only made Moschino a household name but also offers a welcome breath of fresh air on the fashion calendar and in the often poe-faced industry.
