At New York Fashion Week we were plenty impressed with Sophia Kokosalaki’s runway collection for Diesel Black Gold. It seems that department store buyers were as well. Diesel owner Renzo Rosso has hired a new management team to handle the label’s expansion, from re-branding the area of floor space in Diesel boutiques where Diesel Black Gold sits, to opening up shop-in-shops within department stores.

The new team’s leader is Andrea Baldo, a former Bain business consultant. More recently, he headed up Diesel’s swimwear division.

All in all, it seems that Rosso has big plans for Baldo, Kokosalaki and Diesel Black Gold. With investments in everything from Maison Martin Margiela to Viktor & Rolf to Kokosalaki’s own brand, the denim empire’s focus is less and less on denim. “We believe that Diesel Black Gold has in its DNA all the elements of authenticity and the right attitude to effectively connect with the next generation of customers: the millennials”, said Renzo Rosso. “The new strong and dedicated team will make it happen”.

Next up for Diesel Black Gold? A runway show in Tokyo on April 12, which will most certainly attract the region’s top buyers.