Palm Angels Shifts Focus to Womenswear and Accessories, Says Creative Director Ragazzi

The creative director of Palm Angels, Francesco Ragazzi, has indicated plans for the brand to focus on womenswear and accessories, despite menswear being responsible for 80% of the brand's yearly income. Palm Angels is run by the New Guards Group (NGG), the same group that hastened the rise of Off-White and is now under the ownership of online retail behemoth, Farfetch. The specific revenue figures of Palm Angels are undisclosed, however, it is believed that the brand’s revenue substantially surpasses €100 million. Ragazzi perceives a significant potential for expansion in the spheres of womenswear and accessories, specifically sneakers and eyewear.

For Palm Angels to effectively venture into womenswear, Ragazzi believes it's necessary for the brand's design ethos to adapt. He expressed the need for the brand to add more femininity to their product range in order to attract a diverse female audience. He also emphasised the importance of creative collaborations as a means of encouraging growth.

Ragazzi highlighted the brand's successful partnerships with well-established brands such as Moncler for outerwear, Tod’s for formal wear, Missoni for womenswear, and Vilebrequin for beachwear. He reiterated the importance of their joint ventures being both commercially and brand aesthetically oriented, with a preference for partners who have a strong brand identity, and stated his fondness for adding a fresh twist to traditional products.

In the near future, Palm Angels will unveil a collection created in collaboration with Tod’s, owned by Della Valle, which he sees as a tribute to Italian style. Having launched Palm Angels under the guidance of NGG, Ragazzi reaffirmed his commitment to long-term strategic development. His journey in the fashion industry started at the age of 22 at Moncler's press office, where he would eventually become the brand's creative director.

Ragazzi held onto his love for photography throughout his time at Moncler, and his passion took form in the Palm Angels photo project. The project was a collaboration with partner Davide de Giglio and depicted Los Angeles' skateboarding scene through a fashionable lens. Balancing his duties at Moncler and Palm Angels often required long nights of work.

The first Palm Angels lookbook was released in 2014, marking the beginning of their fashion journey. Ragazzi used his platform to blend elements from US street culture with Italian style and luxury, most noticeably with respect to materials and details. He concluded by stating the cyclical and unpredictable nature of fashion, emphasizing the need for a strong brand identity.