Fashion designer Davide Renne died nine days after becoming Moschino’s creative director.

Moschino’s parent company, Aeffe, said Davide, 46, died of ‘a sudden illness’ in Milan on Friday.

Tuscany-born Davide had been head of women’s wear at Gucci, where he worked for 20 years.

He was set to unveil his first Moschino collection at Milan Fashion Week in February.

Harris Reed, creative director of Nina Ricci, described Renne as ‘a true, true angel’, while model and singer Karen Elson wrote: ‘My heart breaks. Sweet Davide rest in peace.’

Tragic: Fashion designer Davide Renne has died nine days after becoming creative director of Moschino

Devastating: Moschino’s parent company Aeffe said Renne, 46, died of ‘a sudden illness’ in Milan on Friday

Grieving: Harris Reed, creative director of Nina Ricci, described Renne as ‘a true, true angel’, while model and singer Karen Elson wrote: ‘My heart breaks. Sweet Davide rest in peace’

The cause of Davide’s death is still unknown, but a statement shedding light on the artist’s pᴀssing referred to ‘a sudden illness’.

The chairman of Moschino’s parent company, Aeffe SpA, Mᴀssimo Ferretti, said: ‘There are no words to describe the pain we are experiencing at this dramatic time.

‘Davide joined us only a few days ago, when a sudden illness took him from us too soon. We still can’t believe what happened.

‘With Davide, we were working on an ambitious project in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and optimism for the future.

‘Even though he was only with us for a very short time, Davide was able to immediately make himself loved and respected.

‘Today we are left with the responsibility of carrying on what his imagination and creativity had only envisioned. Our deepest sympathies go to his family and friends.’

The designer arrived from Gucci, where he had worked for two decades, reaching the position of head designer of womenswear.

He was taking over for Jeremy Scott, who resigned in March after a decade at Moschino, known for its wacky and ironic collections.

Heartbreaking: Tuscany-born Renne had been head of women’s wear at Gucci, where he worked for 20 years

Sad: He was set to unveil his first Moschino collection at Milan Fashion Week in February

Davide studied at both the University of Florence and Polimoda Fashion School.

He began his career working with Italian fashion designer and mentor Alessandro Dell’Acqua before heading to Gucci in 2004.

At the time of his new appointment, Davide said: ‘Franco Moschino had a nickname for his design studio – la sala giochi, the playroom.

‘This resonates deeply with me: what fashion – Italian fashion especially, and the house of Moschino most of all – can achieve with its enormous power should be accomplished with a sense of play, of joy. A sense of discovery and experimentation.’

Many influential fashion figures have taken to social media to pay their respects, with many posting comments on his Instagram posts.

The creative director of Nina Ricci, Harris Reed, described him as ‘a true true angel’.

Renne’s mentor, Dell’Acqua, posted on Instagram: ‘Farewell Davide!! You will always be in my heart.’