Olivier Rousteing leaves Balmain after 14-year tenure at house

Creative Director Olivier Rousteing has left Balmain, the Paris-based house announced Tuesday, bringing an end to the French deisgner’s 14-year-tenure at the house.
 
Rousteing took up his position as Creative Director of the fashion house in April 2011 and staged a series of critically acclaimed collections and shows years, where “his vision and creative genius propelled Balmain to unprecedented heights,” the house said in a release.

 
“I am deeply proud of everything I have accomplished, and infinitely grateful to my exceptional team at Balmain, my chosen family, in a place that has been my home for the past 14 years. I thank Mr. Rachid and Matteo for their unwavering trust and for offering me this extraordinary opportunity. As I look ahead to the future and the next chapter of my creative journey, I will always cherish this special time,” said Rousteing in the release.
 
Known for his blend of haute couture silhouettes, rock n roll attitude and bravura staging, Rousteing was a celebrated figure in Paris fashion.

Balmain did not name a successor to Rousteing, but added that a “new creative organization of the house will be announced at a needed moment.”
 
In the official statement: Mr. Rachid Mohamed Rachid, CEO of Mayhoola and Chairman of Balmain, said: “I extend my sincere thanks to Olivier Rousteing for his extraordinary contribution to Balmain. His visionary leadership has not only redefined the boundaries of fashion, but has also inspired an entire generation with his bold creativity, unwavering authenticity, and commitment to inclusivity. We are immensely proud of everything that has been achieved under his leadership and look forward to the next chapter of his journey, which he will pursue with the same passion and excellence.” 

While CEO Matteo Sgarbossa, also said: “I would like to express my deep gratitude to Olivier for writing such an important chapter in the history of the House. His contribution and passion over the years will leave an indelible mark on the history of fashion.”

Born in Bordeaux to a Somalian mother and Ethiopian father, Rousteing was abandoned in an orphanage as a child, later being adopted by a bourgeois family in Bordeaux. A serious student, Rousteing studied at Esmod art college in Bordeaux, before moving to Florence, where he joined Robert Cavalli in the design studio.
 
In 2009, he began working at Balmain as director of the women’s wear design studio under Christophe Decarnin. By 2011, he had succeeded Decarnin, introducing a sexy rock and roll attitude and razor sharp tailoring – going on to dress stars like Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. He also created costumes for the Opera national in Paris; staged a solo haute couture show for the brand and in 2022 presented a much-admired collection as a guest designer for the house of Jean-Paul Gaultier.

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The house of Balmain was founded in 1945 by Pierre Balmain, embodying from the beginning an innovative look, the “New French Style.”
 
Alongside its ready-to-wear and accessory collections for women and men, the house appeals to an international audience with Balmain Beauty, inspired by the brand’s iconic fragrances from the 1940s and 1950s, as well as its iconic eyewear.
 
Balmain is controlled by Mayhoola, a luxury holding company owned by the Qatari royal family that also owns Valentino in Rome.