Rumors about Alessandro Michele’s return

After seven years as artistic director of Kering's flagship brand, the creative destiny of Alessandro Michele is fuelling rumors. Several names of fashion houses have been mentioned recently, including Lanvin or Givenchy. Meanwhile, other speculations have ignited the web, when Jeremy Scott left the label Moschino. Indeed, the American designer, head of artistic creation for 10 years shares with Alessandro Michele several common interests, including a taste for a pop and provocative vision of fashion, as well as a passion for craftsmanship and the power of made in Italy.

But in the recent days, bets have changed again: there are whispers that Alessandro Michele might soon take on the role of new artistic director of the Italian brand Walter Albini. According to some indiscretions, the designer would have been contacted by the Qatari holding Mayhoola for Investments, which already owns Valentino Fashion Group and Balmain, in order to relaunch the Italian brand and reposition it at the forefront of the fashion world, boosting its image and innovating in its production.

The Qatari fund would thus finance the operation and would have bought all the archives of the house, closed in 1983 following the death of its creator. If the date for the announcement is not known yet, there is talk of the relaunch of the brand in early 2024.

Compared sometimes to Yves Saint Laurent, the designer Walter Albini was a reference of fashion in the 60s and 70s. Albini arrived in Paris at a young age and met Coco Chanel and the stylist Krizia, two artists who played a decisive role in his career. Known for his designs inspired by the Roaring Twenties and the minimalist art movement, Walter Albini is considered the precursor of unisex fashion. He invented the "unimax" models, without distinction of cut or color for men or women and always chose unusual places for the shows of his collections.

The flamboyant and eclectic Alessandro Michele would be the most suitable heir to continue this desire for permanent innovation, after Albini -who died at only 42 years old in 1983- was forgotten by the fashion world for decades despite his undeniable genius.

The ambitions of the investment fund Mayhoola are great in the world of fashion and luxury. Bought by the group in 2012 for 700 million euros, the Valentino brand has seen its sales increase considerably, reaching 1.2 billion euros in 2021. Rumors about Alessandro Michele's arrival at Walter Albini would not be unjustified.