And so the creative director switch-ups continue. On Sunday, Moschino announced that Sunnei’s co-founders, Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo, have been appointed as its new creative directors (the news was first reported by Puck’s Lauren Sherman on June 15).
“We have always admired Franco Moschino’s ability to challenge conventions through creativity while maintaining a clear and consistent voice. It is a rare quality,” the duo said in a press statement. “Moschino has always embodied this attitude as a cultural house driven by a strong, recognizable and radical point of view, using pop culture as a critical tool rather than merely an aesthetic language. Taking on the Creative Direction of the House means embracing this legacy and projecting it into the present, reinforcing its relevance and its ability to shape the contemporary cultural imagination.”
Messina and Rizzo — both untrained designers — launched Sunnei, an Italian menswear brand, in 2014. Sunnei has since fostered its signature “kindergarten-for-adults” aesthetic via bold color palettes and playful silhouettes. Back in 2020, Sunnei took a €6 million majority investment from Vanguards, an investment fund co-founded by Nanushka CEO Peter Baldaszti. The co-founders later exited Sunnei in September 2025 in a rather unique way: Messina and Rizzo symbolically put themselves up for auction at the end of the brand’s Spring 2026 show (which was hosted in collaboration with Christie’s).
This sense of humor could bode well for their time at Moschino, as the Italian luxury house is known for its ironic designs and artful absurdism. Founded in 1983 by Franco Moschino, the label has made a name for itself through pop culture-inspired collections (remember Jeremy Scott’s “SpongeBob Squarepants” line?), unexpected color combinations and witty references.
The design duo succeeds Adrian Appiolaza, who first assumed the role of creative director in 2024, and announced his exit on June 19. Before Moschino, Appiolaza spent 10 years as Loewe‘s design director of women’s ready-to-wear.
“I was given a remarkable opportunity to express my creativity for an important Italian brand with an extraordinary creative heritage such as Moschino,” Appolozo said in a press statement. “I am grateful to Aeffe, and in particular to Massimo Ferretti, for this opportunity. I would also like to thank the entire creative team with whom I shared this intense experience.”
Messina and Rizzo’s appointment to Moschino’s top position marks the latest development in the fashion industry’s larger trend of designer swaps: Carven recently hired Kai Nesselrath after Mark Thomas’ exit, Diane von Furstenberg tapped Henry Zankov and A.P.C. appointed Ludivine Poiblanc.
