Alessandro Michele will leave Gucci after nearly eight years as creative director. “There are times when paths part ways because of the different perspectives each one of us may have,” Michele said in a statement. “Today an extraordinary journey ends for me, lasting more than 20 years, within a company to which I have tirelessly dedicated all my love and creative passion.”

Before being named creative director in 2015, Michele worked behind the scenes at Gucci, dating back to the days of Tom Ford, but was little known outside Milan. Michele expressed his gratitude to the brand, which he called his “home,” and his hope that his adopted family there will “continue to nourish yourselves with poetic and inclusive imagery, remaining faithful to your values.”

Michele first joined the Italian luxury label in 2000 as head accessories designer. Prior to joining Gucci’s design office in 2002, he was a senior accessories designer at Fendi.

Gucci accounts for around half of Kering’s revenue, but growth at the label is slowing; in its third quarter performance for the brand in mainland China was “mixed”, impacting sales in Asia-Pacific.