Davide Renne, the Italian fashion designer and former head of womenswear at Gucci, died nine days after being named creative director of Moschino. He was 46.
His death on November 10 in Milan was confirmed on Friday by Aeffe, Moschino’s parent group. He apparently died after suffering a heart attack, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“There are no words to describe the pain we are experiencing in this dramatic time,” said the statement from Massimo Ferretti, chairman of Aeffe. “Today we are left with the responsibility to carry on what his imagination and creativity only envisioned.”
Mr. Renne, who worked at Gucci for 20 years before announcing his new role at Moschino last month, had been working on a debut collection that would have been shown at Milan Fashion Week in February. A popular figure in the Italian fashion world and right-hand man to former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele, he had spoken of his excitement at being cast in a “dream role” at the helm of one of the most recognizable names in the Italian fashion industry.
“My sweet friend, inseparable brother, so much love,” Mr. Michele wrote in an Instagram post on Friday. “What an amazing and unforgettable journey we had together. So much laughter and pure joy.”
He called Mr. Renne “one of the most talented creatives I have ever known,” adding, “I can’t help but cry desperately for you right now.”
The brand was founded in 1983 by Franco Moschino, who was known for both his quirky and tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and his innovative approach to design. It’s a legacy carried on by his successors – and one that Mr. Renne was clearly keen to explore. He succeeded American designer Jeremy Scott, who left the brand last March.
“Franco Moschino had a nickname for his design studio: la sala giochi – the playroom,” Mr. Renne said at the time of his appointment. “This touches me deeply: What fashion – especially Italian fashion and especially the house of Moschino – can achieve with its enormous power should be achieved with a sense of play and joy. Thank you for giving me the keys to the games room. I can’t wait to get started.”