We’ve been quiet for a while now, as far as the entrance and exit of Creative Directors of fashion houses is concerned, but that calm has been cut short, as today, unfortunately, through a press release issued by the OTB group, we have learned of the departure of Francesco Risso from Marni.

A decade is the time in which the designer has been endowing the firm with his inexhaustible creativity, leaving as evidence designs worthy of being considered true works of art or museum pieces. It’s a shame to communicate this news, as Francesco is one of the few designers who are currently making the fashion industry interesting and fun, an effect achieved in part by following his instinct and not following trends.

The FR era at Marni is over, and of it, Renzo Rosso – Chairman of OTB – has commented: “Francesco has embraced the spirit and the values of the house, and together with the team brought them to new grounds building the foundations for a new and exciting chapter of Marni. Francesco is a unique designer and an artist at heart, and I wish him only the best for the future”.

While, the protagonist himself added: “I will always be grateful to Renzo for believing in me, for giving me the front seat on a journey that became more than I could have imagined. Marni has been a studio, a stage, a dream. It carried color, instinct, care, and gave space for people to be themselves. It taught me how to build with feeling, and how powerful true collaboration can be. Thank you to the whole Marni team, and to all the friends who joined along the way, and here’s to more extraordinary journeys ahead!”

Many thanks Francesco for all you have given to fashion during this decade and for the great legacy you have left behind. Now the question of course arises: who will succeed him? Time will tell.