Some recent corporate changes at Gas Jeans are marking the beginning of a new phase in the brand’s history. A few weeks ago, Andrew Bordin, through Bordin Holding, became the majority shareholder of Gas Milano 1984 S.p.A., acquiring a 70% stake and taking over the shares previously held by Alphasquare (see previous article).
At the same time, Bordin has assumed the role of chairman of Gas Milano 1984 S.p.A. with the goal of strengthening the historic Italian jeans brand’s position in the denim sector.
Andrew Bordin is a Toronto-based entrepreneur with strong roots in both North America and Italy, and aims to brinng to Gas an international approach and an entrepreneurial vision focused on fashion, lifestyle, and consumer brands.
Already involved in the brand’s journey, Bordin will actively contribute to its evolution, guiding its repositioning through product development, distribution, marketing, and global partnerships. Before dedicating himself to the world of fashion and consumer brands, he was a professional race car driver in North America and founded AIM Autosport, a very competitive teamson the American racing scene. Under his leadership, the team collaborated with major automakers such as Ferrari, Nissan, Lexus, and Ford, winning numerous titles.
Accustomed to navigating a highly competitive industry such as the automotive sector, Bordin has appointed the creative direction of the brand to Tony Ranalli, a designer with over thirty years of experience in the fashion industry.
After studying at the Koefia Academy in Rome, Ranalli began his career at Roberto Cavalli, where he worked for ten years as a fashion designer. From there, he pursued a multifaceted career spanning consulting, design, and collection development for Italian and international brands, including Byblos, Zuhair Murad, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Kocca, before launching his own brand, Letonerre. He also collaborated for three years with the Chinese giant Eeak, designing the Koradior brand, before returning to the Cavalli universe to oversee Just Cavalli.
The experience gained by the new creative director has seen him work across menswear, womenswear, licensing, accessories, and apparel, and brings to Gas a solid creative vision deeply rooted in the craft.
We spoke with Gas’ new creative director to learn about the pillars that will guide the brand in this new phase and has already designed a first capsule for the s/s 2027 Gas Kids collection with Gimel.
Mr. Ranalli, Gas has always been a brand recognized for its fresh approach, with a focus on comfort and the latest trends in the denim sector. How do you plan to restore the brand to its past success?
Our starting point is undoubtedly our DNA—our archive, the company’s immense heritage—and, within that, denim in particular, which has always been the brand’s core business.
Within the creative team, we’ve revived a concept that perfectly encapsulates our vision: “It all started with denim.” I believe that to build the future, it’s essential to understand and celebrate our origins.
We need to remember them, rediscover them, and put ourselves back out there, reinterpreting everything through a contemporary lens, identifying new languages, new needs, and new aesthetic codes that revolve around denim.
What aspects do you intend to mostly focus on?
Color and freedom of expression will be two central elements of the upcoming collections. I believe that the historical moment we’re living through calls for positive energy, optimism, and personality. That’s why we want to use color as a tool for expression and identity.
The idea is to be bolder, without hesitation, through vibrant palettes, unexpected contrasts, and combinations that convey character.
Attention to value for money been another key element in the brand’s history? Will it remain one of the pillars of its future development?
Quality is one of Gas’ core values and will continue to be a strategic pillar for the future. Our goal is to further strengthen our control over the production chain, prioritizing manufacturing that is increasingly closer to our headquarters, in the Mediterranean region. This will allow us not only to guarantee high quality standards, but also to monitor each stage of the production process more directly.
Themes such as sports and workwear have been a source of inspiration for Gas Will they continue to be so? In what way?
They will absolutely continue to be so; there will be a nod to the world of motorsports, which has defined Gas’ history for many years.
The collection will feature elements that evoke motorcycling: colors, patches, fabrics, stitching, and silhouettes reminiscent of riders’ uniforms—but all reinterpreted in a fresh way. Above all, however, I want this connection to translate into energy, courage, determination, vitality, and—most importantly—to be interpreted through a feminine lens: a powerful, sensual, self-assured woman who takes center stage. She will be the one calling the shots, riding the motorcycle, and steering it into pole position.
What other themes will serve as the pillars of the future?
One of the most interesting phenomena of our time is cultural fusion. The cities where we live are meeting places for different traditions, languages, aesthetics, and sensibilities that coexist, interact, and influence one another.
Fashion cannot ignore this. On the contrary, it must observe it and transform it into a narrative. Future Gas collections will be increasingly influenced by this widespread cultural richness: colors, techniques, materials, graphic details, and urban influences will become part of the creative process.
You’ve collaborated with major international fashion brands. How might your past experiences influence the future development of Gas?
I worked for many years in the Cavalli universe, and the influence that Eva and Roberto (Cavalli) left on me is undoubtedly the courage to use and experiment with colors and prints with determination and passion. This spirit of creative boldness is something I’m bringing to Gas as well, while integrating it with the brand’s authenticity and denim heritage. The goal is to create a dialogue between innovation and identity, between experimentation and tradition.