Fast Retailing appoints Francesco Risso as creative director of GU

A new Risso x UNIQLO collaboration line is also set for 2026

Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images

Fast Retailing, the parent organisation of UNIQLO, has designated former Marni creative director Francesco Risso as the new creative director of GU. Risso is poised to make his official debut with the brand's Fall/Winter 2026 collection.

The Italian-born designer had extensive expertise, having studied in Florence, New York, and London, followed by a decade at Prada. He subsequently held the position of creative director at Marni from 2016 to 2025, during which he notably partnered with UNIQLO for a 2022 collection. Fast Retailing states that this hiring enables Risso to influence GU’s creative identity as the company embarks on a new phase of global expansion.

This action indicates Fast Retailing's dedication to reconciling high-fashion creativity with mass-market accessibility. By incorporating designer-level cutting and vision into GU, the company perpetuates the successful strategy saw at UNIQLO through its continuous collaborations with Clare Waight Keller, Christophe Lemaire, and JW Anderson.

Fast Retailing has announced that a new collaborative collection with Francesco Risso and UNIQLO is in preparation, set to launch concurrently with his GU debut in 2026.