Gianfranco Esposito

Rome

With Fabrique since 2024 Former Gucci Chief Designer, 13-year in industry who collaborated with Tom Ford & Alessandro Michele. Ex-Max Mara designer from Rome, master of Italian tailoring craftsmanship.

Inspiration

"Hidden Treasures from a Collector's Closet," draws inspiration from how fashion insiders treat their favorite pieces as collectibles rather than just clothing. Taking cues from Los Angeles' Hidden Treasures vintage store, Gianfranco designs with the mindset of creating pieces that stylists, editors, and celebrities will treasure in their personal archives.

Background Fabs

Background

Former Gucci Chief Designer, 13-year in industry who collaborated with Tom Ford & Alessandro Michele. Ex-Max Mara designer from Rome, master of Italian tailoring craftsmanship.

Meet the Man Behind Gucci's Most Memorable ShowsWhen Gianfranco Esposito left his position at Max Mara to join Gucci, he brought with him a deep understanding of Italian tailoring craftsmanship that would prove essential to his future success. This Rome-born designer didn't just work at Gucci—he spent 13 years as chief designer, directly collaborating with Tom Ford and Alessandro Michele during their respective tenures. His role wasn't ceremonial; he was the primary creative force behind the runway collections that transformed Gucci's fashion shows into visual spectacles that fashion weeks are still trying to replicate.

Esposito's design range demonstrates why he became indispensable to the house. He created everything from medieval-aesthetic pieces with whimsical details to maximalist garments featuring thousands of hand-embroidered sequins. His portfolio includes the classic monogram series that became bestsellers and the tennis revival collection that sparked industry-wide athletic luxury trends. These weren't just clothes—they became the core DNA of Gucci's design archive. His technical expertise in Italian precision tailoring, honed during his Max Mara years, gave these elaborate designs the structural integrity needed to support such ambitious creative visions.

His current collaboration with Fabrique, "Hidden Treasures from a Collector's Closet," reveals how his mind works as a designer. Esposito describes his approach as looking through an old keyhole to discover the world's most precious wardrobes and fashion archives. He draws inspiration from how stylists, designers, celebrities, and fashion editors treat their favorite pieces not just as clothing, but as treasured collectibles. His mood boards reference Los Angeles' Hidden Treasures, considered one of today's premier vintage destinations—a walk-in closet experience that reflects his collector's mentality.