Kering has named Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli as the brand new Inventive Director of Balenciaga.
Piccioli will succeed Georgian designer Demna, who is about to hitch Gucci – a fellow luxurious home below the Kering umbrella – after presenting his last high fashion present for Balenciaga.
Demna, who made his identify in trend because the co-founder of the Vetements label, made large waves at Balenciaga along with his exaggerated silhouettes and his subversive tackle streetwear.
Now taking the reins, Piccioli will deliver his distinctive inventive imaginative and prescient and wealth of expertise to Balenciaga, constructing on the success achieved by Demna whereas persevering with the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga and the storied Parisian home.
Commenting on his appointment, Piccioli mentioned: “Balenciaga is what it’s immediately because of all of the individuals who have paved the best way. In all its phases, whereas continuously evolving and altering, it has by no means misplaced monitor of the Home’s aesthetic values.
“What I’m receiving is a model filled with potentialities that’s extremely fascinating. I need to at first thank Demna; I’ve all the time admired his expertise and imaginative and prescient. I couldn’t ask for a greater passing of the torch. This provides me the prospect to form a brand new model of the Maison, including one other chapter with a brand new story.
“I’m grateful for the belief that François-Henri, Francesca and Gianfranco are giving me. We had been effortlessly on the identical web page from the beginning, and that’s the greatest technique to start one thing new.”
A revered and completed designer, Piccioli is understood for his long-term tenure at Valentino, the place he labored for over 20 years and served as Inventive Director from 2008 to 2024 – firstly alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri from 2008 to 2016, then solo from 2016 to 2024, after Chiuri left the model for Dior.
Earlier than Valentino, Piccioli labored briefly with Fendi, the place he collaborated on the model’s equipment traces, notably purses. He’s celebrated for mixing traditional Italian craftsmanship with daring use of color and a sculptural method to Haute Couture.
After becoming a member of the model on 10 July, Piccioli’s debut assortment for Balenciaga is about to be unveiled in October 2025.
Francesca Bellettini, Deputy CEO at Kering in command of Model Growth, mentioned: “I couldn’t be happier to welcome Pierpaolo. He is among the most gifted and celebrated designers of immediately. His mastery of Haute Couture, his inventive voice, and his ardour for savoir-faire made him the perfect alternative for the Home.
“I’d additionally wish to sincerely thank Demna for the daring, distinctive imaginative and prescient he delivered to Balenciaga over the previous ten years, shaping its identification within the up to date period. I’m satisfied that Pierpaolo and Gianfranco will lead Balenciaga completely by way of this vital new chapter of its historical past.”
Gianfranco Gianangeli, CEO at Balenciaga CEO, added: “I’m excited to start this new period at Balenciaga with Pierpaolo.
“His inventive imaginative and prescient will thrive, and he’ll completely interpret the legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga, constructing on the Home’s daring creativity, wealthy heritage and robust tradition. With the experience of our groups and the dynamic inventive power that has traditionally pushed Balenciaga, I look ahead to what we’ll construct collectively.”
Based by Spanish-born Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1917 and established in Paris in 1937, the unique home of Balenciaga outlined trendy couture with improvements in type and approach.
Right this moment, it continues to uphold this imaginative and prescient by way of “boundary-pushing” collections together with ladies’s and males’s ready-to-wear, equipment, and objets d’artwork. It was acquired by Kering in 2001.
