The most fashionable game of musical chairs shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
Fashionistas are still reeling from Donatella Versace’s exit from the luxury fashion house founded by her late brother Gianni, and two other labels are already seeing major changes at its upper levels: Loewe and Gucci. These come amid a broader reshuffling of top posts at global fashion brands, driven by geopolitical factors including an escalating trade war, trickier market conditions, and a weakened demand in China.
In a January report, consultants Bain & Company have estimated that only about a third of the world’s luxury brands experienced growth in 2024. “Global luxury consumers, grappling with macroeconomic uncertainty and continued price elevation by brands, cut back slightly on discretionary items,” it said.
So what’s happening at Loewe and Gucci? Let The POST fill you in on the latest.
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Loewe bids Jonathan Anderson goodbye
After Donatella’s shocking exit from Versace, another departure makes fashion headlines: Jonathan Anderson has left the Spanish label Loewe after 11 years at the helm, owner LVMH announced Monday.
Anderson is often credited for transforming Loewe since he assumed his role in 2013. At the time, the atelier was known for being an understated leather goods brand. Under the 40-year-old’s creative leadership, Loewe has become one of the most avant-garde and influential names in fashion, known best for blending heritage craftsmanship with surrealist designs.
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Per The New Yorker, the brand has become “both a darling among critics and a commercial dynamo,” adding that the Madrid-based brand had posted a profit of more than 200 million euros in 2023, a 60 percent increase from the previous year.
More than profitability, Loewe’s runway shows have become a favorite among the biggest celebrities, counting A-listers such as Timothée Chalamet, Pedro Almodovar, and Tilda Swinton as among its fervent fans.
Among Anderson’s best known fashion moments are the sparkling body-hugging outfits for Beyonce’s 2023 Renaissance tour, and Rihanna’s show-stopping red ensemble highlighting her baby bump for her Superbowl performance the same year. His Puzzle bag, introduced in 2014, has become a cult-favorite and a modern classic, recognizable for its origami-inspired structure and modular versatility.
“Under his direction, Loewe experienced exceptional growth and established itself as a pioneer in presenting a modern vision of luxury fashion and culture,” a statement from Loewe said.
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Rihanna in Loewe for the 2023 super bowl halftime performance.
In an Instagram post, the London College of Fashion alumnus wrote he had been “lucky enough to be surrounded by people with the imagination, the skills, tenacity and resourcefulness to find a way to say ‘yes’ to all my wildly ambitious ideas.”
“Looking back, I’ve come to realize that a brand is not built on the first show, or even a first year of shows, it’s built slowly season upon season, year upon year, on what is right for a brand,” he added.
He ended his statement by saying that as even as his own chapter in the brand draws to a close, “Loewe’s story will continue for many years to come and I will look on with pride.”
Anderson’s next move remains undisclosed, but he has been linked to Dior, where creative director for menswear Kim Jones quit at the end of January and womenswear designer Maria Grazia Chiuri is said to be on the way out.
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Gucci welcomes Denma
Over at Gucci, meanwhile, instead of a goodbye, the Italian luxury brand is saying hello to its new creative designer: Denma. He is known for transforming Balenciaga from a niche luxury house into one of the most exciting and groundbreaking in the industry. In Gucci, the 43-year-old will be in charge of women’s wear, men’s wear, and accessories.
Dubbed by The New York Times as the “great Gucci reset,” Denma’s appointment comes with very high expectations, with the brand’s revenue plummeting 23 percent in 2024. The Georgian designer seems up to the herculean task. During his decade-long tenure at Balenciaga, the Spanish luxury fashion house saw its revenues soar to almost $2 billion from an estimated $390 million. Gucci and Balenciaga are stablemates at luxury fashion giant Kering.
Demna is known best for elevating everyday items like Crocs, IKEA totes, garbage bags. He also showcases all ages, genders, and kinds of beauty on his runway in his thought provoking shows.
He takes the reins from Sabato De Sarno, who abruptly exited the brand a few weeks before the presentation of its fall/winter 2025-26 collection during Milan Fashion Week last month.
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