Key facts
- Francesco Risso, who has experience at Prada and Marni, has been appointed creative director of GU.
- GU is the sister brand of Uniqlo, both owned by Fast Retailing.
- Risso's appointment aims to boost GU's global recognition and profitability.
- His first collection for GU will be for Fall/Winter 2026.
- Risso will also develop a new collaboration line with Uniqlo, launching in 2026.
GU, the more trend-driven and affordable sister brand of Japan's Uniqlo, has appointed Francesco Risso as its new creative director. Risso, who previously spent nearly a decade at Prada and served as creative director for the Italian luxury brand Marni, is tasked with shaping GU's creative direction as it aims to strengthen its global presence and profitability.
Risso's first collection for GU is slated for the Fall/Winter 2026 season. In addition to his role at GU, he will also develop a new collaboration line with Uniqlo, scheduled to debut in 2026. This move follows Risso's departure from Marni, announced last summer, and aligns with a broader industry trend of luxury designers taking on roles at mass-market retailers to increase visibility and reach.
Fast Retailing, the parent company of both brands, views Risso's appointment as a key step in GU's next phase of growth. His previous work, including a Marni x Uniqlo capsule collection in 2022, showcased a blend of his signature colorful and experimental style with practical design, suggesting a potential direction for GU's offerings.
Risso is not the first high-profile designer to join the Fast Retailing group. Clare Waight Keller, formerly of Givenchy and Chloé, was appointed creative director of Uniqlo in 2024. Other luxury designers, such as Zac Posen, have also moved to mass-market brands like Gap, indicating a strategic approach by these companies to infuse their accessible lines with high-fashion appeal and tap into a wider consumer base.