Fast Retailing is making a clear move to elevate its brand GU. The company has appointed Francesco Risso as GU’s new Creative Director. His first collection for the brand is scheduled for Fall/Winter 2026.

Risso is an interesting choice. Italian-born, he trained in fashion across several cities and spent ten years working within Prada. More recently, from 2016 to 2025, he was the Creative Director at Marni, where he built a reputation for an artistic vision inspired by music and culture.

Alongside this new role, Risso will also design a separate collaboration line for UNIQLO, set to launch in 2026. He already has experience with the group, having led the UNIQLO and Marni collaboration in 2022.