Women's Lifestyle June 19, 2026 0 Comments

Adrian Appiolaza’s Moschino Exit: Is This The Game-Changer The Fashion World Didn’t See Coming?

Ever wonder what it feels like to step into some seriously big shoes… and then swap ‘em out barely two years later? Adrian Appiolaza did just that at Moschino, taking the creative reins in early 2024 after a whirlwind succession that saw him follow not only Jeremy Scott but also the late Davide Renne. Managing women’s, men’s, and accessories, he had a tall order—and his debut in Milan for Fall 2024 showed he wasn’t just filling a spot; he was setting a new tone. But now, the curtain falls on his Moschino chapter, raising a bigger question: what’s next for a designer who’s not only steeped in fashion royalty but also owns one heck of a quirky archival collection? From Buenos Aires roots to shaping runway moments with political punchlines and surrealist nods, Appiolaza’s exit leaves us guessing—and hungry for what the future holds. Ready to dive deeper? LEARN MORE

2 min read

Adrian Appiolaza is departing his role as creative director of Moschino, a position he has held since early 2024. He was responsible for women’s, men’s, and accessories. His debut collection was for Fall 2024 in Milan after succeeding previous creative director Jeremy Scott and the late Davide Renne after his untimely death shortly after his appointment.

In a statement, Massimo Ferretti, executive chairman of Aeffe SpA, said, “I would like to thank Adrian Appiolaza for his significant contribution to the development of Moschino over the past two years and wish him every success in his future professional endeavors.”

Appiolaza was born in Buenos Aires in 1972, and his first fashion memories come from his grandmother, who worked as a tailor. He studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins, and while at school, he was a junior designer at Alexander McQueen, later working under Phoebe Philo at Chloe. Appiolaza’s résumé includes stints at Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, and Marc Jacobs. Prior to Moschino, he served as design director of women’s ready-to-wear at Loewe, where he collaborated closely with Jonathan Anderson for a decade. Appiolaza is also a prolific collector of archival fashion, often posting quirky shots of his collection to his personal Instagram.

Model in purple dress with ruffled hem and lilac hat, holding a mint green handbag.

Getty Images

Spring 2026

Throughout his tenure at Moschino, he imbibed the tongue-in-cheek visual branding of his predecessor, founder Franco Moschino, with elements of designers he studied under, like Jacobs’ grunge and Anderson’s surrealism. For his last collection, shown in February in Milan, the designer paid homage to his home country with a slight political bent, referencing those like Argentina’s former first lady Eva Peron and the social justice-minded comic book character Mafalda through 1940s-style tailored coats, T-shirts printed with the word “basta!”, as well as clutches made to look like piggy banks (these made from papier-mâché money) and cacti.

milan, italy february 27 a model walks the runway at the moschino fashion show during the milan fashion week womenswear fallwinter 20262027 on february 27, 2026 in milan, italy photo by vittorio zunino celottogetty images

Vittorio Zunino Celotto//Getty Images

Fall 2026

Moschino has not announced a successor, nor has there been any news yet about where Appiolaza will go next. And while it’s unfortunate that the designer wasn’t able to get a bit further in his vernacular for Moschino, there’s no doubt he’ll land well on his very singular feet wherever he ends up next.