Gucci’s gay king-maker Alessandro Michele is no longer with the fashion house

Italian designer Alessandro Michele no longer works as the creative director of the famous fashion house Gucci, WWD reports.

Michelle outlined the vision for Gucci for eight years, but worked there for nearly 20 years in total, at one point under Tom Ford. While Michelle’s exit didn’t seem too serious, he did admit to having a clash of visions before his departure.

“There are times when paths diverge due to the differing viewpoints each of us may have,” Michelle said in a statement on Wednesday. Describing Gucci as his “home,” the designer said, “An extraordinary journey, lasting more than 20 years, within a company to which I have tirelessly devoted all my love and creative passion, ends today.”

Since taking over at Gucci in 2015, Michele has earned respect for his thoughtful designs and regular flouting of gender conventions. It was Michelle’s initial fall/winter men’s line noticed for adrogyny. Sales remained strong under his leadership, but executives at parent company Gucci were looking for a change of direction in the brand’s style, to me mowing.

Perhaps Michel himself is dissatisfied with his position – the visionary recently told reporters that he feels like a “slave to things.”