Francesco Risso, the acclaimed Italian fashion designer best known for his work as creative director at Marni, has been appointed creative director of GU, the more trend‑driven, affordable sister brand to Uniqlo under the Fast Retailing group.

This marks a major shift from high‑end luxury fashion into mass‑market design, with Risso’s first collection for GU set to debut in Fall/Winter 2026. He will also work on a collaboration line with Uniqlo, building on a previous successful partnership from 2022.

The move reflects a broader industry trend of high‑fashion creatives bringing artistic vision to accessible brands, aiming to blend quality and creativity with wider consumer reach.