Marni’s Francesco Risso Named Creative Director of GU

Fast Retailing is making a major power move by tapping former Marni visionary Francesco Risso to lead the creative charge at GU. After nearly a decade of turning Marni into a whimsical, avant-garde powerhouse, Risso is now trading high-fashion eccentricity for the high-volume world of “democratic” retail. The Prada alum is tasked with injecting Uniqlo’s trend-first sister brand with a distinct editorial identity as it scales up for global expansion. It’s a significant hire that signals a shift in the industry playbook: bringing the intellect of luxury design directly to the masses.

Risso’s official debut is set for the Fall/Winter 2026 season, but that’s only half the story. In a rare double move, Fast Retailing also confirmed a new Francesco Risso x UNIQLO collaboration slated for the same year, following the duo’s viral 2022 link-up.

What are your thoughts on this appointment?