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Fast Retailing announced on Thursday that Francesco Risso has been appointed creative director of GU, the Japanese apparel chain’s youth-focused, value-oriented brand and its second-largest behind Uniqlo.
Risso previously served as creative director of Marni, stepping down in June 2025 after a decade at the luxury brand.
The Italian designer’s debut collection for GU is scheduled for Fall/Winter 2026, while a collaboration with Uniqlo is also set to release this year.
With its appointment of Risso, Fast Retailing is replicating the playbook it has used at Uniqlo, where it has hired designers such as Clare Waight Keller and Christophe Lemaire to inject a fashion-forward energy into its offering.
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GU, which already has a solid presence across Asia, where it has more than 480 stores, is now aiming to reach a broader international audience. In 2024, it entered the US market with the opening of its New York flagship in SoHo. In its quarter through November 30, GU’s same-store sales fell slightly year on year as Fast Retailing said the brand struggled to gain momentum “due to a lack of products that encapsulated mass fashion trends.”
Learn more:
Does America Need Another Fast-Fashion Brand? Uniqlo Thinks So
The Japanese apparel chain will be launching its sister brand GU in the US later this year, targeting younger consumers with lower prices and a curated selection of trendy wares.
