The Designer Brings a Wealth of Experience, Most Recently as Loewe’s Ready-to-Wear Design Director
Moschino has announced the appointment of Adrian Appiolaza as creative director. With a decade of experience as women’s ready-to-wear design director at Loewe, Appiolaza will oversee the women’s, men’s and accessories collections of the Maison, reporting to the Executive Chairman of the house’s parent company Aeffe S.p.A., Massimo Ferretti.
Appiolaza steps into the role following the sudden passing of Davide Renne – who was to succeed Jeremy Scott – in November.
Appiolaza will make his debut with the Fall 2024 Women’s collection, which will be showcased on February 22nd at the Museo della Permanente during Milan Fashion Week. This location holds a significant place in the brand’s history, as the Società per le Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente hosted the historic exhibition “Moschino – X anni di Kaos! 1983-1993” in 1993, celebrating the first decade of the brand founded by Franco Moschino.
We are happy and honored to welcome Adrian to the Aeffe family,” Ferretti said. “With his arrival at Moschino, Adrian brings with him a unique wealth of experience, creativity and knowledge of the history of fashion that will be instrumental to write a wonderful new chapter in the adventure of the brand founded by Franco Moschino. I was immediately struck by the explosive creativity of Adrian, a personality full of energy and enthusiasm, elements that have always distinguished the history of the Moschino brand. I wish Adrian all the best to build a great success story with us.”
Prior to his ten years at Loewe, Appiolaza worked alongside some of the most influential names in contemporary fashion. Born in Argentina, the designer moved to London to study at Central Saint Martins. After a brief stint at Alexander McQueen, the illustrious Phoebe Philo discovered his graduate collection, and invited him to work alongside her at Chloé. Appiolaza then worked under Miuccia Prada at Miu Miu from 2006, before heading to Louis Vuitton as senior designer for Marc Jacobs in 2010. After a brief return to Chloé under Clare Wright Keller in 2012, he moved into his most recent role at Loewe, where he helped to solidify Jonathan Anderson’s design studio as one of the foremost in the business.
In addition to his thoroughly impressive design resume, Appiolaza is an avid collector of archival fashion. On his personal Instagram, the designer shares looks at the rare pieces from his beloved collection, which includes grail pieces from the likes of Maison Margiela, Helmut Lang, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, and more.
Speaking to his excitement towards the new role both as a designer and as a lifelong fashion fan, Appiolaza said, “The jackets with 3-D postcards, the dress with a skirt made with twenty bras, the countless trompe-l’oeil: as a creative and a collector, the list of creations by Franco Moschino that have entered the history of fashion is almost endless. The essence of his talent, for me, is to inhabit his time – a mission he carried out with enviable lightness, opening a window for all of us to imagine, in our own way, the future. I am deeply grateful to Massimo Ferretti for allowing me to access the world of Moschino, as well as entry into a House whose walls exude a history that I am eager to hear. I am ready to transport the Maison into a new chapter, with a theatrical touch, in the pure style of Moschino.”
