Davide Renne, farewell to the new creative director of Moschino

He passed away suddenly, aged just 46, Davide Renne. Appointed only on October 16th as creative director of Moschinothe Tuscan designer, born in Follonica, died in Milan, in hospital.

A mourning that came like a terrible bolt from the blue and that truly affects the entire world of fashion: because if his name had just begun to be familiar to the general public following the prestigious appointment – awaited and well deserved throughout his life, his great opportunity to finally let everyone know about his great talent – among the insiders and colleagues in the fashion business, however, they were everyone knows his skill, his kindness, his elegant ways. A person and a professional towards whom – even in an often non-delicate world like that of the behind-the-scenes of fashion – it was impossible to come across any less than affectionate comments.

It’s the same Renne who, in the press release with which the Moschino maison announced him in his new role, tells his story. And it is perhaps nice to remember her in her own words: «My whole life has led me to undertake a journey of exploration: after all, I was born in Tuscany, in Follonica in 1977, a stone’s throw from the Tyrrhenian Sea, a body of water magical whose cliffs, according to Greek mythology, housed the four winds guarded by Aeolus. I realized in high school that, for some mysterious reason, I continued to design women’s clothes. Despite this, I thought that when I grew up I would study architecture, but studying at Polimoda in Florence gave me a sense of absolute freedom. And they paved the way for a creative path that, I soon discovered, became my life. Immediately after graduation, I worked at Alessandro Dell’Acqua: Alessandro was my first teacher and mentor in fashion. I then went by Gucci where I spent two extraordinary decades as Head Designer for Womenswear. I spent the last eight years of this period together with Alessandro Michele: he taught me to dream big, encouraged me and helped me make my dreams come true. Fashion, like life, gives us the opportunity to discover ourselves. I don’t like fashion that dictates answers, I’m more inclined to find the right question, then the answers will come in the designer’s dialogue with the public: fashion is, by its very nature, tailor-made. Taking the helm of the house created by a genius of Italian design and contemporary art is an honor I do not take lightly. I realized that Franco stops appearing as an exception only when one considers his work not outside but beyond the confines of fashion, as a contemporary artist. He was the creator of a very modern concept of luxury, relevant today more than ever: his work is present even if Franco is no longer here. He taught us that fashion cannot be explained, it can only be experienced because it essentially, intimately concerns life, the world around us. This is, for me, the poetry of fashion. I see fashion as a dialogue in which the creation of beauty takes place.”

A beauty of soul, hers, that will remain. Because what seem like words of circumstance and clichés, in his case are not: Davide Renne will be missed. To the fashion world that loses a great talent. And to his friends, who forgive Davide.

The sad news was broken by the same brand for which Renne had just taken on the role of creative director, Moschino. Massimo Ferretti, Executive President of Aeffe SpA, declared: «There are no words to describe the immeasurable pain we are experiencing in this dramatic moment. Davide joined us only a few days ago, when a sudden illness ended his young life too soon. We still can’t believe what happened. With Davide we were working on an ambitious project, full of enthusiasm and optimism towards the future. Even though he was only with us for a very short time, Davide was able to immediately make himself loved and respected. Today we remain responsible for carrying forward what his imagination and creativity had only imagined. We embrace Davide’s family and numerous friends with affection.”