Simone Bellotti is heading to Jil Sander, whose creative director post was left vacant by the departure of Luke and Lucie Meier last month.
“Simone embarks on this journey with extensive experience and a distinct talent. Over the time spent together we shared the strategic vision and mission for Jil Sander, the values of innovation and sophistication that make it an iconic and unique brand,” said Renzo Rosso, chairman of OTB Group, in a statement.
Bellotti was quietly recruited to Bally’s design team in October 2022 from Gucci, where he’d spent 16 years in the design studio under Frida Giannini and Alessandro Michele. He became design director in May 2023, when then-designer Rhuigi Villaseñor exited after just over a year at the helm.
Bellotti’s departure is the latest in a series of shakeups at Bally. Former CEO Nicolas Girotto left in October to lead Berluti. The Swiss luxury brand also has new owners as of last August, when it was acquired by Regent, a US-based investment firm, from JAB, the investment arm of Germany’s Reimann family. Regent installed Ennio Fontana as Bally’s general manager in October following Girotto’s departure.
At the time of Bellotti’s appointment, Bally stated that he would bring a “deep understanding of ready-to-wear tailoring and accessories” to the brand. His collections, debuting at Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024, have been well received. Vogue’s Chiara Barzini wrote in August that Bellotti had managed to “transform Bally into a brand that people are talking about… not by orchestrating a social media tsunami but with word of mouth buzz”.
That understated approach to threading the history of a house — Bally dates back more than 170 years — with contemporary updates makes Bellotti a fitting choice for Jil Sander. The Milan label is younger, founded by its eponymous designer in Hamburg in 1968, and therefore, its references and codes are fresher. Luke and Lucie Meier’s tenure as co-creative directors lasted seven years, through the acquisition of the label by OTB Group founder Renzo Rosso in April 2021. It sits alongside Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni and Viktor & Rolf.
“I am incredibly honored to join Jil Sander, a storied house that created a new aesthetic with its unique approach and strong identity, and that has always had such a significant influence on the design community. I am grateful to Renzo for the trust,” said Bellotti.
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