Alessandra Facchinetti

Alessandra Facchinetti's name has been in the press many times before: First, as Tom Ford's successor at Gucci; then, as the creative director at Valentino. While Fachinetti's work at both of these houses was generally respected, if not lauded, neither appointment proved the right fit. In 2011, Facchinetti launched contemporary collection Uniqueness in partnership with Italian company Pinko. Uniqueness was, well, unique in that every piece was available to purchase online directly after the runway show. But Facchinetti has now severed ties with Pinko in order to join Tod's as its creative director, replacing Derek Lam. I spoke with Facchinetti yesterday over the phone about her new job.

Tod's has announced that Alessandra Facchinetti will take over as creative director beginning next month. While not a household name herself, the Italian designer has worked for several.