Francesco Risso
Creative director of GU (Fast Retailing) since January 2026
Francesco Risso is an Italian designer who was creative director of Marni from 2016 to 2025, where he became known for an artistic, handcrafted and often upcycled aesthetic. In January 2026 Fast Retailing appointed him creative director of its affordable fashion brand GU, with his first collection planned for Autumn/Winter 2026.
| Role | Creative director, GU (Fast Retailing) |
|---|---|
| Since | January 2026 |
| Marni | Creative director, 2016 to 2025 |
| Prada | From 2008 |
| Education | Polimoda, FIT, Central Saint Martins |
| Nationality | Italian |
Who is Francesco Risso?
Francesco Risso is an Italian fashion designer from Genoa, on the Ligurian coast. He is known for an experimental, artistic approach that mixes craft, colour, collage and performance, and for moving from conceptual luxury to one of the largest groups in mass-market fashion.
Career
Risso studied fashion in three cities: at Polimoda in Florence, at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and at Central Saint Martins in London, where he completed his studies under the influential professor Louise Wilson. He worked for Anna Molinari, Alessandro Dell'Acqua and Malo before joining Prada in 2008, where he spent around a decade on womenswear and special projects.
- 2008: joins Prada
- 2016: appointed creative director of Marni, succeeding founder Consuelo Castiglioni
- 2022: Uniqlo and Marni collaboration
- June 2025: leaves Marni after the Autumn/Winter 2025 collection
- January 2026: appointed creative director of GU by Fast Retailing
In 2016 Risso succeeded founder Consuelo Castiglioni as creative director of Marni, owned by Renzo Rosso's OTB group. His collections featured upcycled materials, hand-painted surfaces and elements of performance art, giving the brand a more radical, art-world identity. He left Marni in June 2025 after nearly a decade.
Influence on the fashion business
Risso's next step marked a notable shift between market segments. In January 2026 Fast Retailing, the Japanese owner of Uniqlo, appointed him creative director of GU, its lower-priced fashion brand, with a debut collection planned for Autumn/Winter 2026. The group also announced a new collaboration line with Uniqlo, building on the Uniqlo and Marni collection of 2022.
The appointment reflects a broader trend of mass-market retailers recruiting designers with luxury credentials to strengthen creative identity, at a time when affordable brands compete with luxury for cultural relevance. Risso is also active as a guest lecturer at art and design institutions.
Why it matters
Risso's move from Marni to GU is one of the clearest examples of creative talent crossing from luxury to large-scale, affordable fashion. How a designer known for craft and experimentation works within a high-volume supply chain will be closely watched across the industry, particularly by other value retailers weighing similar appointments.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Francesco Risso?
Francesco Risso is an Italian fashion designer who was creative director of Marni from 2016 to 2025. In January 2026 he was appointed creative director of GU, a Fast Retailing brand.
Where did Francesco Risso go after Marni?
After leaving Marni in June 2025, Risso joined Fast Retailing as creative director of GU, with his first collection for Autumn/Winter 2026. He is also developing a collaboration line with Uniqlo.