Hedi Slimane, as so many people say? Yes, of course, “he is very talented”. But for Domenico De Sole (81, archive photo by Imagoeconomica) Gucci doesn’t need a celebrity. After the Sabato De Sarno’s farewell and in the midst of an economic crisis, the priority is for the next creative director “to be good”. The manager, who joined Gucci in 1984 and was its CEO from 1994 to 2004, talks to Milano Finanza Fashion all round about the luxury sector. Here we would like to focus on his outlook for Kering group’s flagship brand. De Sole says he is optimistic. First of all, because it is in very good hands: those of Francesca Bellettini and Stefano Cantino.
Gucci doesn’t need a celebrity
So, De Sole does not sketch out his ideal designer. But he does identify the main quality he must have: “He must be very good. Tom Ford (with whom he worked in partnership at Gucci and elsewhere, ed.) was not famous, nobody knew him”, are his words. “The point is to find someone who is very talented. If he is famous or not, it doesn’t matter”. Is this the case with Slimane? The former CEO does not mince his words. “He is very talented. I have known him well since we acquired YSL for Gucci Group. We wanted him to stay, but he would have preferred to become creative director, a position we gave to Tom. Shortly afterwards, Slimane was hired by Dior Homme”.
Meanwhile, it’s in good hands
“I want Gucci to be the best brand: I’m very optimistic”. These days, such a statement of positivity is almost surprising. But De Sole explains that he has two good reasons to see light at the end of the tunnel. “First, because they have good leadership. Francesca Bellettini, deputy CEO of Kering, is terribly good, she worked for me at Gucci. And the brand has fantastic recognition, I think they are having a difficult time now. But I believe in Francesca as well as in Stefano Cantino, the new CEO”.
Product photos from social media
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