“This is not really ‘a brand.’ You really feel that everything started from the Haute Couture. It’s almost everywhere; the shadow of that culture, snaking in every corridor, room, hands, brain, people here work differently. The salon is full of incredible people, it’s like every single person is like a little wizard, something magical, and everything is under a spell. Time doesn’t exist. The ritual of making is completely different.”
The above quote could only come from Alessandro Michele, who joins Nicole Phelps on this episode of The Run-Through for a formidable conversation about his new life chez Valentino. Last year, the beloved and influential designer was appointed the new creative director at the Roman house, where for the first time he will also be in charge of a couture collection. Michele previously spent 20 years at Gucci, the last eight as creative director, where his maximalist, egalitarian vision of beauty was culture-shifting.
Beyond his prowess as a designer, Michele is a thinker, and truly one of the most interesting people in the industry. You won’t want to miss him talking about his approach to creativity, why he styles his own collections, how he seeks and keeps joy in the world, and why he thinks “fashion can build a better, dreamy place.”
