Moschino Welcomes New Creative Leadership
The Milan-based fashion house Moschino has announced the appointment of its new co-creative directors. The duo taking the helm are Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo, the founders of the influential brand Sunnei.
This significant announcement comes just three days after the departure of Adrian Appiolaza, who had led Moschino for the past two and a half years. The news marks a new chapter for the iconic Italian label.
Vision for Innovation and Heritage
Massimo Ferretti, Chairman of Aeffe S.p.A., Moschino’s parent company, expressed his confidence in the new appointees. “For a fashion house to evolve, it is essential to strike a balance between its unique identity and innovation,” Ferretti stated. He added that Messina and Rizzo possess the necessary qualities to embrace this challenge, including a contemporary creative vision, deep cultural sensibility, and the ability to develop original creative language while resonating with a broad audience.
Messina and Rizzo, known for their appreciation of flamboyant elements, are well-equipped to inherit the rich legacy of irony and hyperrealism that Moschino has long championed. Their tenure at Sunnei demonstrated a fearless approach to design and a keen business acumen.
A Bold Approach to Fashion
The creative pairing previously showcased their distinctive approach with Sunnei’s September 2025 show. Rather than a conventional fashion presentation, the event was staged as a horse race, with models competing entrance. This unconventional presentation garnered significant attention, especially when the duo announced their departure from Sunnei mere hours after the show concluded.
Sunnei, which began as a menswear brand in 2014, expanded its reach to include womenswear in 2018. Both Messina and Rizzo bring diverse professional backgrounds to their new roles. Neither studied fashion design formally; Messina previously handled visual merchandising at Gucci, while Rizzo built a career in corporate fashion management, working as a digital manager and buyer.
Incoming Directors’ Statement
Upon their appointment at Moschino, Messina and Rizzo shared their perspective:
“We have always admired Franco Moschino’s ability to challenge conventions through creativity while maintaining a clear and consistent voice. This is a rare quality. Moschino has always used pop culture not just as a stylistic language but as a critical tool, embodying a ‘cultural house’ driven by a bold, direct, and urgent viewpoint. Taking on the creative direction of this house means embracing this legacy and strengthening the brand’s relevance and its capacity to shape contemporary cultural imagination by projecting it into the present.”
Debut on the Horizon
The duo’s debut collection for Moschino is scheduled to be unveiled during Milan Fashion Week this September.
