Marni’s Colourful Leader Steps Down
Francesco Risso, who brought bold and playful fashion to Marni, has resigned as the brand’s creative director after nearly nine years. Known for his funny, artsy, and wild designs, Risso helped make Marni popular with a younger crowd and grew the business in a big way.
Risso joined Marni in 2016, after working quietly behind the scenes at Prada. When he took over from the brand’s founder, Consuelo Castiglioni, many didn’t know him. But soon, he gave Marni a fresh and exciting identity, full of colour, strange shapes, and cool celebrity connections.
Under his leadership, Marni worked with big names like UNIQLO, Carhartt, Charli XCX, and Erykah Badu, and appeared at big events like the Met Gala. Risso also made Marni’s shoes and bags more fun and easy to wear, helping the brand earn nearly €300 million in yearly revenue by 2022, up from around €150 million before he joined.
His exit leaves questions: Why is he leaving? Where is he going next? Will he present one last show? And who will replace him?
Marni’s parent company, OTB Group, has recently changed many creative heads at its other fashion brands. That means Marni’s next designer might also be someone with experience and a strong style voice.
But one thing is clear: Marni must stay bold, strange, and stylish—just as it always has been. Even before Risso, Marni was known for its “ugly-chic” look, mixing awkward glamour with quirky charm. Whoever comes next will need to keep that special spirit alive.
For fans of Marni, the hope is that the next chapter will be just as fun and fashion-forward.
