Bluestar Alliance Installs New Leadership to Steer Palm Angels’ Next Phase

Palm Angels reinvents itself under the umbrella of Bluestar Alliance. The luxury streetwear brand, founded in 2015 by photographer and designer Francesco Ragazzi, begins a new phase after its integration into the New York-based hólding, specialized in the acquisition and relaunch of brands with strong DNA and international projection.

The new plan involves a creative redefinition and a global expansion piloted by two strategic profiles: Luca Donnini, former executive of Max Mara, Guess or Temperley London, and Alberto Furlan, Ragazzi's right-hand man since 2017.

Donnini, with more than four decades of experience in the industry and currently co-CEO of SportLux, has been appointed CEO of Palm Angels. His responsibilities range from expanding the business to entering new categories, with the goal of strengthening the brand's global presence while staying true to its streetwear roots.

"We want to consolidate our connection with Generation Z, open new points of sale, launch relevant collaborations and continue to explore the codes of urban fashion from an elevated perspective", Donnini said about his strategy to U.S. media WWD.

Bluestar Alliance renews management of Palm Angels brand

The appointment is part of a strategic alliance between Bluestar and SportLux, a global brand development platform that already operates other labels of the group such as Off-White, Diadora or Thomas Pink.

The creative area is now headed by Alberto Furlan, promoted after several years as designer of the men's line. The creator has been key in defining the aesthetic universe of Palm Angels together with Ragazzi, and now takes over with a proposal that seeks to mature without losing authenticity.

Furlan will debut with the spring 2026 collection, which introduces a new logo inspired by the palm trees of Los Angeles and opts for a more refined aesthetic. The collection, organized in three capsules, incorporates references to Brazilian and Jamaican cultures, while expanding the footwear and outerwear lines.

The relaunch project will also include a physical expansion. Palm Angels currently operates ten company-owned stores and is preparing new openings in key destinations such as Dubai, Mumbai, Athens and New York. In addition, a showroom will open this month in Milan and another in New York's SoHo neighborhood in the summer.

The streetwear brand plans openings in Dubai and New York.

The departure of Francesco Ragazzi, announced in parallel to the closing of the deal with Bluestar Alliance, marks a turning point for a brand born at the crossroads between fashion, photography and urban culture. Ragazzi, former artistic director of Moncler and collaborator of the Moncler Genius project, founded Palm Angels from a photographic book published in 2014 with a foreword by Pharrell Williams. His images of the Los Angeles skater scene defined from the start the visual tone of the brand, which has stayed away from fashion weeks in recent seasons to privilege one-off presentations.

The acquisition of Palm Angels, announced late last year, reinforces Bluestar Alliance's positioning in the high-end urban fashion segment, after adding brands such as Scotch & Soda, Elie Tahari and Hurley to its portfolio. Founded in 2006 by Joey Gabbay and Ralph Gindi, the holding company manages more than 500 licenses and more than 500 stores worldwide, with a combined global turnover of $9 billion.