MILAN — Canali has tapped Alessio Lillocci as its creative director.

Born in Italy’s central region of Umbria in 1977, Lillocci developed his creative sensibility within his mother’s tailoring atelier.

He began his career in luxury retail before joining Brunello Cucinelli in 2002, initially working alongside the namesake founder in the menswear style office, then becoming head of the men’s style office in 2007 with responsibility for apparel, footwear and accessories collections.

In 2024, he joined Prada as men’s ready-to-wear collections director.

“We are delighted to welcome Alessio,” said Stefano Canali, president and chief executive offiver of the family-owned menswear company. “His experience, sensitivity, and deep knowledge of the menswear world will represent important assets for the future of the brand. He will work alongside our style and product teams to shape a renewed yet coherent vision of the Canali identity.”

Lillocci contributed to the design of Canali’s fall 2026 lineup but his first collection in this new role will bow for spring 2027.

“Joining Canali is a great honor for me. It is a brand that fully represents the excellence and sartorial mastery of Italian menswear, where product culture, quality and attention to detail are tangible and everyday pillars,” said Lillocci. “Here, all the elements are in place to build an authentic and coherent creative journey, capable of evolving while respecting the brand’s DNA.”

The decision to name a creative director is an unexpected move for Canali after a decade of relying solely on the brand’s in-house design team, but marks a further step in the evolution of the brand under the lead of its president.

An exception was Andrea Pompilio in 2014, who joined Canali as creative consultant and exited two years later after four collections.