Davide Renne, creative director at Moschino, dies at 46

The world of high fashion was shocked and saddened Friday to learn that Davide Renne newly installed creative director for Moschino, died suddenly at the age of 46, as Vogue reports.

The sad news was confirmed by the fashion house's parent company, Aeffe, which announced the death through its executive chairman, Massimo Ferretti, though, as the Daily Caller noted, no cause of Renne's demise had yet been made public.

Unexpectedly brief tenure

It was just 10 days prior to his death that Renne took the creative reins at Moschino, a move that was lauded by the fashion intelligentsia in Milan.

At the time of his promotion to the role, Renne said succinctly, “I can't wait to begin.”

Remarking on the historic nature of his new role, Renne paid tribute to Franco Moschino, the label's founder and namesake.

“Franco taught us that fashion cannot be explained, can only be lived because it's essentially, intimately, about life – about the world around us. This is, to me, the poetry of fashion,” Renne explained. “I see fashion as a dialogue where the creation of beauty happens.”

Expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in his abilities, Renne added, “So, thank you Mr. Ferretti and thank you House of Moschino for giving me the keys to your playroom.”

Prolific career remembered

Born in a seaside locale in Tuscany, Renne spent his high school years at the Liceo Scientifico before moving on to the Polimoda fashion school, located in Florence.

From there, he relocated to Milan, taking a job in with Alessandro Dell'Acqua and then transitioning for a brief time to Ruffo Research, where several other industry notables spent time.

Just before his elevation to the role at Moschino, Renne was a key component of the design staff at Gucci, ultimately becoming head of Womenswear Design at the venerable label.

Major loss mourned

The weighty sense of loss felt by so many in the Italian fashion world was perhaps articulated best by Ferretti, who said, as People noted, “With Davide, we were working on an ambitious project, in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and optimism for the future. Even though he was only with us for a short time, Davide was able to immediately make himself loved and respected.”

“Today we are left with the responsibility of carrying on what his imagination and creativity had only envisioned,” Ferretti added, before offering his sympathies to Renne's family and friends.