Milan’s fashion scene was rocked Friday by the news that Moschino’s newly appointed creative director Davide Renne has died of unknown causes at the age of 46.
“There are no words to describe the pain we are experiencing during this dramatic time. Davide joined us just a few days ago but was quickly taken away due to a sudden illness. I still can’t believe it happened,” said Massimo Ferretti, chairman of Moschino’s parent company Effe. “Together with David, we were working on an ambitious project in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and optimism for the future.Although he was with us for only a short time, David quickly fell in love with us. Today, we are left with the responsibility of carrying on what his imagination and creativity envisioned. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.” he said.
Rennes, a Gucci alumnus, started working at Moschino on November 1, and his first collection was scheduled to debut in fall 2024 during Milan Fashion Week in February. He replaces Jeremy Scott, who left the brand in March last year after a 10-year term.
“My meeting with Davide was immediately enlightening,” Ferret told WWD upon his appointment. Already from our first meeting, I appreciated his aesthetic sensibility and his ability to see the different levels of interpretation that Franco Moschino always inserts into his works. ”
Ferretti added that Rennes “immediately demonstrated a very polite and respectful approach, which is a testament to our company, where values tied to family and a sense of belonging remain the foundation of our daily lives.” “It reflects the company’s culture.”
Rennes spent 20 years designing women’s collections at Gucci, eventually becoming head designer of women’s wear, and was scheduled to oversee the women’s, men’s and accessories collections at Moschino.
“Franco Moschino nicknamed his design studio “la sala giochi” (playroom). This resonates deeply with me. What fashion, especially Italian fashion, and above all the house of Moschino can achieve with its enormous power, should be achieved with a sense of playfulness and joy. A sense of discovery and experimentation,” Rennes said at the time of his appointment.
At that time, Rennes wrote a letter, shedding light on his life and saying, “I experienced a voyage of discovery.” After all, in 1977 I lived in Follonica, Tuscany, on the magical waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. According to Greek mythology, four winds were blowing on the cliffs above the Tyrrhenian River, kept by Aeolus. ”
In high school, he wrote, “For some strange reason I kept drawing women’s clothes.” “Nevertheless, I wanted to continue my studies in architecture, but enrolling at Polimoda in Florence gave me a complete sense of freedom, paved the way for a creative journey, and soon… I realized that it became my life.”
His first steps into fashion were with Alessandro Dellacqua, with Renne describing the designer as his “first teacher and mentor in fashion,” before moving on to Gucci.
“I spent the last eight years with Alessandro Michele. He taught me to dream bigger, pushed me further and helped me realize my dreams. Fashion is life and In the same way, it’s about discovering yourself. I hate fashion that dictates answers. I tend to find the right questions, and the answers come in a dialogue between the designer and the audience. Fashion is essentially bespoke.”