Marni names Belgian designer Meryll Rogge as creative director

Italian luxury house Marni announced Tuesday the appointment of Belgian designer Meryll Rogge as its new creative director, filling the role left vacant by Francesco Risso's departure in June. The appointment comes just two weeks after Rogge won the prestigious 2025 ANDAM Grand Prize, positioning her as one of fashion's most promising emerging talents.highsnobiety+1

Rogge's selection marks the latest in a series of creative reshuffles at OTB Group, Marni's parent company, which has also installed new leadership at Jil Sander and Maison Margiela this year.fashionnetwork+1

Rising Star Takes the Helm

"Meryll impressed us with the sensitivity she brought to reinterpreting the brand's DNA, offering a contemporary vision that embraces Marni globally," said Renzo Rosso, OTB chairman, in a statement reported by Fashion Network. The 41-year-old designer launched her eponymous brand in 2020 after cutting her teeth at Marc Jacobs in New York and later serving as head of women's design at Dries Van Noten.fashionnetwork+1

Rogge's rapid ascent culminated earlier this month when she became the sole female finalist to win the ANDAM Grand Prize, securing €300,000 and mentorship from Sidney Toledano, senior advisor to LVMH's Bernard Arnault. She was also named Designer of the Year at the 2024 Belgian Fashion Awards, becoming the first woman to receive the honor.tomorrowltd+3

According to Vogue Scandinavia, Rogge's brand is known for "bold colours, prints and constructions" with a focus on wearability. Her designs have attracted celebrity clients including Rihanna and Dua Lipa.voguescandinavia+1

Industry Transformation

Rogge succeeds Risso, who spent nearly a decade transforming Marni through what OTB described as "immersive shows and experiences" and artistic collaborations. His departure in June surprised industry observers, as Fashion Dive noted, coming amid "a dizzying number of designer shakeups" across luxury fashion in 2025.fashionnetwork+1

The appointment solidifies a broader transformation at OTB, where Rogge now stands as the only female creative director following recent changes at sister brands. Her hiring continues Marni's tradition of nurturing unconventional talent, as Highsnobiety observed, noting that Risso himself was "plucked from inner-team obscurity" when appointed in 2016.voguescandinavia+1

"I'm truly honored to join Marni — a house I've long admired for its independent spirit," Rogge said in a statement to Fashion Network. The designer will oversee not only fashion collections but also accessories, interior design, and special projects as she shapes what CEO Stefano Rosso called "the future of this amazing brand."fashionnetwork